Whether it was during my time at Florida State University in the 80s, or family visits to Tallahassee to see my uncle and his family at Thanksgiving, Bradley’s Country Store was always one of those places we had to go. We’d load up on sausage then count the days until our next visit.
It wasn’t until I started this blog in 2017 that I began to appreciate the value of hidden gems like Bradley’s. So, when I moved to Tallahassee in October 2020, I put it at the top of my list of old Florida places to visit near my new home. My only question: Why did I wait so long to go?
The drive to Bradley’s is well worth the 12-mile trip from Tallahassee. Two-lane canopy-covered Centerville Road provides a peaceful, relaxing journey. It’s a journey that is regularly made by thousands of locals, as well as visitors from throughout the Southeast. When we arrived on a recent Saturday, the front parking spaces were full, as well as the adjoining picnic area and spaces across the street – a testament to its popularity.
The Store
From the road, Bradley’s looks like you would expect an old country store to look. There is no glitz or glamour, no neon lights to draw you in. In fact, the exterior of the store holds true to its heritage, looking much the same as it did in 1927 when Bradley’s opened its doors for the first time. The storefront itself is iconic and can be seen in photos across social media platforms. The front porch is a throwback to grandma’s porch, with its wooden rocking chairs, reaching out to the traveler to “come and sit a spell.”
Inside, the old country store charm continues. The history of the store can be seen on walls and counters wherever you turn. Three aisles of merchandise, from fresh vegetables to Bradley’s branded sauces and preserves, and old-fashioned hard candy await visitors. An old Coca Cola drink case filled with bottled sodas sits just inside the front doors, along with a juke box and a manual cash register that no doubt has seen its share of sales. Photos of the Bradley family, along with old newspaper clippings, and a framed presidential note of thanks for Bradley’s grits are also on display.
The Sausage
The main attraction, however, is at the back of the store, Bradley’s famous country smoked sausage. A chalkboard spells out the offerings, a meat case holds the goods, but it’s not until you bite into the sausage that you understand why it is so popular. Bradley’s is very selective about the ingredients in the sausage they sell. It is seasoned and smoked using the same recipe Grandma Mary Bradley used four generations ago. Oak and green hickory are used to cure the sausage out in the smokehouse behind the store. The aroma from the smokehouse permeates your senses as you walk past it.
On any given Saturday, you can expect to stand in line to get one of Bradley’s daily lunch specials – a six-inch sausage dog with chips and a drink. The line moves fast, and the service is friendly and personable. While the sausage dogs are divine, make sure to order up a pound or two of the sausage links. If you get back home and want more (or want to share with friends and family across the country), Bradley’s also ships their sausage. Just visit their website to place your order.
Grits!
While sausage is Bradley’s claim to fame, another draw to the store is its country milled grits. Just outside of the main store is the mill house which houses the grist mill used for grinding corn into cornmeal and grits. History has it when the mill opened nearly a century ago, local farmers and sharecroppers visited the mill house to have their own corn ground for personal use.
True to history, the mill was cranking the Saturday we were there – ground corn falling into tubs below, an old Ford 600 tractor providing the power to keep the mill churning.
Visiting Bradley’s Country Store
Four generations of the Bradley family have kept the business going and thriving, while at the same time holding on to family traditions. As their brochure states, they are “A Link with the Past.” So, if you’re tired of today’s rat race, take a visit to yesterday.
Bradley’s Country Store is located at 10655 Centerville Road, just outside of Tallahassee. Once you get there, plan on staying awhile and enjoy the peaceful country atmosphere. Sit on the front porch or enjoy your lunch on the picnic tables under the trees. Additional tables and a pond are located just across the street.
Bradley’s is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The store is closed Sundays and major holidays.
Whether you are roaming the aisles in the store itself, or walking around the grounds, it is truly an old Florida treasure to be experienced.
Watch the slideshow below for more photos of our visit to Bradley’s Country Store.
