[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 124 (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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     RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF H.G. GREENE GENERAL STORE

 Mr. BUDD. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a 
multigenerational American small business that has proudly served the 
community of Ronda, NC, for 150 years: H.G. Greene's General Store. 
Founded in 1876 by James Clignman ``J.C.'' Greene, H.G. Greene's 
General Store is Wilkes County's oldest retail business.
  Born in 1856, J.C. Greene was orphaned after the passing of his 
parents William and Frances Canady Greene in 1863. As a young man, J.C. 
Greene opened the doors to his first general store at the same four-way 
intersection in Wilkes County where it remains operational today.
  The store is named after Harry ``H.G.'' Greene, who started working 
in the store at the age of 12 after his father J.C. was injured in a 
fall. He operated the store until about a year before he died at the 
age of 89 in 1993.
  Harry's son Bob and his wife Darlene Greene now continue the family 
legacy, constructing a new storefront in 1973 near the original store 
site in the Yadkin Valley. Later, the Greene family expanded the 
general store's footprint to incorporate a second location in 
Jonesville.
  Generations of North Carolinians have relied on this historic 
retailer as a one-stop shop for everything from produce and baked goods 
to artisanal goods, apparel, and outdoor gear. And the general store's 
front porch has long been a consistent community hub for North 
Carolinians to gather.
  I firmly believe that what makes America's family-owned and operated 
small businesses endure across generations is not simply their 
longevity, but their unwavering commitment to the communities they 
serve. These businesses become more than places of commerce; they 
become gathering places, trusted neighbors, and cornerstones of local 
life. Through changing times and economic challenges, they continue to 
show up for their communities with the same dedication that first 
earned them the trust of their customers.
  Without a shadow of doubt, H.G. Greene's General Store has lived up 
to that standard.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 150th anniversary of 
H.G. Greene's General Store with a round of applause for this great 
American small business.

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