A.Z. Palmer, one of the original settlers of Snowflake, established the town's first store with his brother-in-law Mark Kartchner. In 1895 he purchased the store on this site and for a number of years became the pre-eminent merchant in the region. After about 1905, his son Arthur served most of the time as chief clerk and later also worked as postmaster, insurance agent, and farm implement dealer, with all of those businesses operated in conjunction with the store, then called A. Z. Palmer and Son. In 1925 A. Z. died, and that same year Arthur was called on a two year LDS mission to the Eastern States; during his absence the store failed. Through his general store, livery stable, ice cream parlor, and associated businesses, A. Z. served a broad regional clientele.