Timeless Treasures Await Last-Minute Christmas Shopper at Atkinson’s Store

GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD — Everyday, tens of thousands of cars rush up and down Greenwell Springs Road.  At this time of the year, many are on their way to shop for Christmas gifts at the big malls or chain stores.

Ironically, they are hurriedly passing by one of the best places to shop in the Baton Rouge area — Atkinson’s General Store, a fascinating antique store where the discerning and budget-conscious shopper can find timeless treasures that the malls can never match.

The store itself is much like it was when Russell “Little Joe” Atkinson and his wife Georgia Wells Atkinson had it from the 1950’s to the 1980’s.  Today the paint is peeling on the outside, but don’t let that fool you.

Inside, you will find antiques, jewelry, crystal, furniture, paintings, records, and vintage sporting goods including fishing gear.

There are hundreds of rare and unusual items from a spinning wheel to pie cases to Louisiana memorabilia of every type.

The antique store includes 13 vendors, and every vendor sells items from A to Z.  Some of the vendors do a big business on eBay.  So there is a turnover of merchandise and new things are always coming in.

If you are fortunate, you’ll stop by when Mrs. Jeane Atkinson is on duty.  She’ll tell you that she’s from New Jersey and not one of the “real” Atkinsons.  “My husband came down here from New Jersey in 1956 to work construction.  We were looking for a place to rent in Denham Springs and took the ‘back way’ on Greenwell Springs Road, which wasn’t very busy in those days.  My kids saw the store and said, ‘Look, daddy, there’s our store!’  We were Atkinsons too!  So we fell in love with the place.”

Today, Jeane Atkinson is a volunteer who, like others who work at the store, don’t accept pay.  “We love it and want to keep it going,” she said.

Little Joe and Georgia passed away years ago, as have their four children — Billie Creel, Edgar Atkinson, Nina Henderson, and Russell, Jr., who was killed in World War II.

When the store was about to be demolished years ago, local realtor Steve Myers came to rescue and purchased the property.  “It needed to be saved,” he said.  “It is a classic! As long as we can pay the bills, we’ll keep it open.”  Steve is brother-in-law to Judy Myers, the granddaughter of Little Joe and Georgia Atkinson.

The Atkinson General Store, 8868 Greenwell Springs Rd., phone 924-1941, will be open Thursday, Friday (10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), and Saturday (10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) between now and Christmas.

By the way, there’s no website and no email.  Every sale is written up on a sales pad and rung up on the old cash register — just like it always was!

by Woody Jenkins