The Olson store stood in the town of Olson at the northeast corner of Nine Mile and Olson Road in Lee Township. Originally built in 1880 and rebuilt in 1924, it was bought by the Larson family in 1904. Elva (Larson) Smith donated the store to the Sanford Historical Society, and the building was moved to the museum grounds in 1993 and restored. During that restoration, the walls and ceilings were completely replaced and repainted, the floors were partially rebuilt and refinished, and the interior layout was recreated from plans provided by Elva Smith herself. Many of the interior items now displayed were also provided and installed with Elva's assistance. One or two people operated the store, where customers gave the grocer a list and the grocer collected the items and handled the weighing, packing, and pricing. A hand-pumped gas pump outside filled customers' containers or car tanks, and a barrel of kerosene filled customers' containers. Inside, a potbelly stove with nearby chairs and a checkerboard table served as a place where customers kept up on local happenings. At the rear of the store, a cabinet held milk, cream, butter, and eggs traded for groceries or offered for sale, while sugar, flour, and coffee were bought by the barrel or large bag and weighed and sacked ahead of time for sale when the grocer was not busy.