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Cooper’s Country Store

SC PICTURE PROJECT 21 Comments

SC Picture Project / Williamsburg County / Cooper’s Country Store

Cooper’s Country Store in the Williamsburg County town of Salters may look like a regular pit stop for travelers on their way to the Grand Strand, but it is actually a destination for South Carolinians looking for the some of the state’s most savory barbecue and tastiest country hams.

Salters, Cooper's Country Store

Michael Mascari of Blythewood, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

When United States Highway 521 was built in 1937, connecting Manning to Georgetown, entrepreneur Theron Burrows decided to take advantage of the traffic that would be passing through his town. He opened an Esso station that also stocked the usual convenient store staples and fed hungry day trippers.

Coopers Country Store Sign

Darrell Parker of North Charleston, 2002 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

When Burrows died in 1974, the store fell under the ownership of his daughter and son-in-law, George and Adalyn Cooper. The Coopers built a smoke pit and began selling barbecued chickens and hogs. In addition to the smoked meats, patrons can select a country ham or any part of the pig to take home and cook themselves. It even sells the whole hog head for making headcheese.

Coopers Country Store

Theresa Borgeson of Conway, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Today Coopers’ Country Store is run by George and Adalyn’s nephew, Russell Cooper. It remains a popular stop with travelers and locals alike, boasting spicy barbecue sauce that, according to Cooper, will “pull the sweat out from under your eyes.”

Cooper's Country Store

John Nelson of Columbia, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on Cooper’s Country Store


Esther Fogle, a longtime SC Picture Project contributor, describes the scene she found at Cooper’s Country Store in 2008: “If you want to step back in time, take the ‘back way’ to Myrtle Beach and travel down US 521, two miles from Salters. You will find Cooper’s Country Store, owned by Adalyn and George Cooper. It’s like being in another era. It still has the old wooden floors and old-timey meat cases. They sell buckets of lard and barbecued pigs’ feet. In the back of the store, you will find country hams hanging from the ceiling the old fashioned way. It’s probably one of the last ole-timey ‘Mom and Pop’ stores around and it’s right here in South Carolina.”

Esther Fogle of Easley, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

John Nelson, who sent us the below photo of the ceiling-strung hams, says: “Inside the store is a screen ‘closet’ where they hang up hams to cure. What an aroma!”

Cooper's Country Store Hams

John Nelson of Columbia, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Cooper’s Country Store

Where is Cooper’s Country Store located?
Address: 6945 United States Highway 521, Salters, SC 29590
GPS Coordinates: 33.581317,-79.822230
What else should I see?
C.E. Moseley Store 3.3 miles
Salters Depot 3.3 miles
W.S. McCollough and Sons Store & Grain 3.3 miles
Ferrell Store 3.3 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Restaurants
  • Salters Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Stores
    Cooper’s Country Store Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jim McCullough says

      November 27, 2019 at 7:51 PM

      How do I order from your country store? I have ordered in the past, but have forgotten how I did it. Old Age is stetting in.

      Reply
      • SC Picture Project says

        December 2, 2019 at 10:02 AM

        Hi Jim! We are not associated with Cooper’s Country Store, but you can give them a call at 843-387-5772. Good luck! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Bob Rhine says

      August 10, 2019 at 1:47 PM

      Great place. It takes me back. I stop in whenever I am seeing friends in Surfside.

      Reply
    3. Frances D. Thomas says

      July 22, 2019 at 7:04 AM

      I am trying to see what I can buy online?

      Reply
      • SC Picture Project says

        July 23, 2019 at 1:51 AM

        Cooper’s Country Store does not have online ordering, you may call them directly to see if they do any type of phone ordering. Their phone number is (843)-387-5772.

        Reply
    4. Ric Barr says

      July 3, 2019 at 7:32 PM

      I second the motion for online purchases.

      Reply
    5. Joe says

      June 28, 2019 at 7:17 PM

      Online shopping, would be nice.

      Reply
    6. Bob Rhine says

      January 11, 2019 at 6:23 PM

      I was driving back to Melbourne Florida and saw this place out of the corner of my eye. I had to stop in. This place is a classic.

      Reply
    7. Bob Gaines says

      December 1, 2015 at 6:32 AM

      Send my good friends and customers a country ham at Christmas from Russell’s store.

      Reply
    8. Gregg Mckean says

      May 30, 2015 at 4:44 PM

      The only place I go to get ham and bacon. 80 miles round trip, I go 2 times a year, it is worth it. Ham and bacon cut to how I want it and the sausage is good also, so pick up a box.

      Reply
    9. Chas Jamison says

      March 24, 2015 at 4:30 PM

      Really good food!!!

      Reply
    10. Whit Whitlock says

      February 28, 2014 at 12:55 PM

      This barbeque is delicious. The sauce is exactly what folks from our area live, and then some! It has a zap to it that is addictive and if I got 3,5, or 7 pounds, sometimes I believe I’d be able to eat it all in one sitting. Go Kel and Rus! I wish I was your neighbor so I could have some every day! …Wait, that’s not a bad idea! I’LL MOVE TO SALTERS!

      Reply
    11. Daniel Gamble says

      November 28, 2013 at 5:43 PM

      I drive by every time when I go to Georgetown. The barbecue, country ham, and sauce is the best. I love it.

      Reply
    12. Emma Gordon says

      January 3, 2013 at 2:32 PM

      I have lived in Kingstree SC for a long time and love passing and going to Cooper’s.

      Reply
    13. Rusha Sams says

      August 22, 2012 at 9:02 AM

      We love visiting Cooper’s Country Store on our way to Pawleys Island. It wouldn’t be breakfast at Pawleys without country ham from our favorite ol’ timey country store in Salters, SC!

      Reply
    14. Some Guy from Some Place says

      July 19, 2012 at 9:30 PM

      I forgot, they have shotguns too.

      Reply
    15. Some Guy from Some Place says

      July 19, 2012 at 9:29 PM

      I bought fried chicken skins there just today. FRIED CHICKEN SKINS! I love that place. Reminds me of my granddad’s store. They still have fan belts hanging on racks, hardware, meat counter, panty hose. You name it.

      Reply
    16. Domonique White says

      March 2, 2012 at 4:05 AM

      Do they still sell sunbeam jumbo honeybuns?

      Reply
    17. Parker says

      June 12, 2011 at 9:24 AM

      Cooper’s has THE BEST sausage I have ever eaten. Can’t get enough of it.

      Reply
    18. Rydell Davis says

      March 4, 2011 at 4:52 PM

      I’m from Baltimore MD and I love this place. I look forward to stopping there when visiting my mother-in-law and family. This place has the best BBQ and BBQ chicken, not to mention country ham. I love to browse around in there looking for treats to take back home like jellies, preserves, dry beans, and canned goods. Can’t wait to get there this summer.

      Reply
    19. Don Clark says

      March 2, 2011 at 8:55 AM

      Coopers has some very good barbecue, too!

      Reply

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