• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SC Picture Project

The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

  • FIND A LANDMARK
    • BY CITY
    • BY COUNTY
    • BY CATEGORY
    • BYGONE LANDMARKS
  • ADD IMAGES
  • VOLUNTEER
  • SPONSORS
  • DONATE

Pruitt’s Grocery Store

SC PICTURE PROJECT 3 Comments

SC Picture Project / Beaufort County / Pruitt’s Grocery Store

Built in 1920, this grocery store within a sleepy Beaufort neighborhood served customers for 95 years before closing in May of 2015. The store was built by Harry and Rebecca Smith, who ran it for decades before it was passed along to their niece, Bessie Pruitt, and her husband, John. John Pruitt ran the store before handing it down to his son, Ed, in 1951. Meanwhile, Ed’s brother, James, bought a nearby grocery store on Ribaut Road in 1953 called Bess’ Cash and Carry and renamed it James W. Pruitt Grocery Store.

Pruitts Grocery Store

Jim Jenkins of Chesterfield, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Both brothers successfully ran their respective stores for much of the twentieth century, primarily selling meats and sundries such as candy and bottled sodas. Ed Pruitt died of a heart attack in 1980, leaving the store established by the Smiths vacant. When Beaufort County purchased the Ribaut Road store location for use as a government complex in 1986 and razed James Pruitt’s store to pave a parking lot, James moved into the original 1920 store that had sat empty since his brother’s death.

Pruitts Store

Jim Jenkins of Chesterfield, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Locals patronized the corner grocery store for nearly a century, coming for Pruitt’s fine selection of meats and sweets. At the age of 83, James Pruitt decided it was finally time to retire from the family business in May of 2015. Word that Pruitt was closing the iconic store spread through the Beaufort community like the Spanish moss that frames the old building, bringing folks from far and wide to purchase what remained of the store’s inventory and to say goodbye to Pruitt. Now closed, Pruitt hopes that whoever buys the historical building continues to use it as a neighborhood grocery store.

Plan Your Trip: Pruitt’s Grocery Store

Where is Pruitt’s Grocery Store located?
Address: 1114 Greene Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
GPS Coordinates: 32.437734,-80.675038
What else should I see?
Grand Army of the Republic Hall 0.3 mile
St. Helena's Church 0.4 mile
Beaufort National Cemetery 0.5 mile
USC Beaufort 0.5 mile
Show me more like this!
  • Beaufort Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Bygone Landmarks
  • See other South Carolina Stores
    Pruitt’s Grocery Store Map

    Please Help Us Stay Online

    We’d like thank everyone who generously supports the South Carolina Picture Project. You provide us with the inspiration and financial support we need to keep doing what we do. Every reader’s contribution, larger or small, is valuable. If you have enjoyed this website or found it helpful, please pitch in. Each donation helps – and it only takes a minute. Thank you!

    Support the SC Picture Project!

    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    You may also like

    You may also like

    St. Helena's ChapelSt. Helena Chapel of Ease Sheldon at DuskSheldon Church Ruins Cuthbert House, Beaufort, Front ViewCuthbert House The GreenThe Green Wateree Country StoreWateree Country Store

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Iwasumina Olumuyiwa Olamina says

      September 16, 2022 at 7:21 AM

      I’m kind of sad that it is not a community store anymore.

      Reply
    2. Dr. Alfred Cohen says

      January 12, 2020 at 8:14 AM

      My wife and I are the owners of the renovated Pruitt’s Grocery. It is now a lovely two-bedroom cottage. I would be grateful for permission to download your two pictures, in order to print, frame and place in our house for visitors to appreciate.

      Reply
    3. Leona Black says

      December 15, 2017 at 3:21 PM

      Very interesting, but then I love these houses and buildings from the past.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    FIND A LANDMARK

    Why This Site Matters

    Help Keep This Site Online

    We depend on the support of today’s readers to document South Carolina’s landmarks for future readers. Please help us continue this important work by making a donation below.

    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    Recent Posts

    • H.L. Hunley
    • Strand Theater
    • Camden Depot
    • Charleston City Marina
    • Secession Hill

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    Footer

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    CONTACT US

    We’d love to hear from you! Send us a quick email at share@scpictureproject.org.

    If you are looking for permission to use a photo, please reach out directly to the photographer listed in the image’s credit.

    JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

    The South Carolina Picture Project has two Facebook groups. One is dedicated to SC Historic Landmarks and Iconic Landscapes, and the other is dedicated to SC Nature and Wildlife.

    South Carolina Picture Project © 2022 · All Rights Reserved