Trading post opens in Newburg
Hoyt Burfield owns Newburg Trading Post, where he buys, sells and trades myriad merchandise.
Hoyt Burfield is open for business in Newburg. The Newburg Trading Post and Produce Market now occupies the building that was once-upon-a-time a grocery store/gas station operated by his in-laws.
“The store stayed vacant from the middle ’80s until a few months ago,” Burfield said. “I bought it from my brother-in-law.”
Burfield’s mother-in-law is pictured in the store in a photograph about 50 years old. It was at the time a grocery/gas station.
Burfield was born in Russellville and grew up in Lawrence County. He worked in construction for years as a pipe insulator and lived for a while in Tennessee before moving back to Newburg. The old vacant store was just being used for storage, and with Burfield living in the house next door, he decided to buy it. “When I was cleaning it out, there’s was so much stuff left in it,” Burfield said. He figured the thing to do was go into business, and with a few months of elbow grease to get the building in decent shape, the Newburg Trading Post opened its doors.
Burfield visits auctions and estate sales to find unique items with good profit margin. He said running the store has been “pretty interesting.”
“I enjoy going to auctions and estate sales,” Burfield said. “Sometimes you get a bargain on things.” Some of his favorite finds include old cameras and an antique washing machine. The store also has fresh produce and handmade jewelry, along with furniture, home décor, books and movies, vintage electronics, plumbing supplies, small appliances and other bits and bobs.
The way Burfield sees it, the trading post is way to not only occupy his time, as a retiree, but also to honor the store’s history as his in-laws’ grocery store to bring some new energy to Newburg.
“In the Lost and Forgotten of Franklin County Facebook page, somebody posted a picture of the abandoned store building before I did any work to it,” Burfield said. “It just looked pretty rough. Now it’s hopefully bringing a little life back to the community.”
The store is located on Highway 724, about ten miles east of Russellville.
