The Forgotten Busy Bee Country Store & Restaurant

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In early August, we went on a great trip that had yet to set a plan. Our goal was to sleep on public land and discover whatever we came across. On Friday night, we camped near Sudbury and woke up early the next day. After getting some supplies, we hit the road to search for exciting places to explore. It didn’t take long for us to find our first spot!

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This land was originally a gas station. In 1994, the owners bought it back after trying retirement and vacationing in Florida. Their story started in 1979 when they bought a nearby truck stop and added more services for truckers. The idea came from the owner, a former trucker who saw the need for a place where travelers could get fuel, mechanical services, and food. His wife and family ran the restaurant while he worked in the shop. This was a one-stop shop for travelers!

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In 1990, they sold their truck stop and wanted to travel to Florida. However, they missed running a business, so in 1994 they bought an empty gas station, fixed it up, and turned it into a Country Store and Restaurant. The husband ran the truck stop and was also a local politician. The business ran until 2010 but was abandoned and damaged by vandalism.

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Discover the upper level of this location! It was previously used as a workspace with a storage room and full bathroom. It is possible that it was also used as an apartment, and someone may have been living there without permission. There were cabinets filled with important documents, including unused checks, work schedules, and bank deposit slips.

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The main entrance had a big room with a counter on the left, probably for the country store. There was a smaller room for the bathroom in the back and a beautiful staircase. Ahead was a private dining room that could separate from the store and restaurant. I loved the use of wood everywhere!

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The main dining area was to the right, a big room connected to the kitchen. I also took a photo inside the private dining room, looking towards the main entrance. This restaurant could fit many people and serves delicious home-style cooking for tired travelers and local regulars.

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The final area we checked out was the kitchen, which still had a lot of things left, including some expensive kitchen equipment. I had previously worked in a kitchen part-time, and it reminded me of both good and stressful moments. I had to work in a hot and tight space, and people often asked me where things were. The future of this kitchen is still being determined, as it has been abandoned for almost 10 years. However, it would take little to restore it to its former beauty.