The Biggest Little Store on Highway 4

Karma Korner doesn’t look like much from Highway 278 in Rosston , one of the smaller towns right outside of Hope, but it is definitely one of those “ hole in the wall” places that make up  the very essence of southern small-town life. 

“The biggest little store on Highway 4,” was the advertising slogan used at one time before the highway was changed to Hwy 278.

Mostly remembered as  Green’s Grocery, Karma Korner has also been tagged Jerry’s One Stop, AJ’s, Jottem Down and several others according to current owner Kris England. England has filled the walls with relics from his family’s past while his wife, Stephanie  keeps the kitchen cooking a variety of southern favorites. There is even a man named Tabler that occupies the back corner table every day. He feels so at home that he brings his favorite seasoning and sometimes forgets to take it home. 

“ I eat here five days a week. It’s  convenient , it’s great service and good food,” Jerry Tabler said as finished his meal then turned to he grab his bottle of seasoning and headed out the door.

 “ That ought to tell you something,” England said as he talked about someone’s upcoming surgery with another regular Gayden “ Aggie” Jones.

“ We are all just like family around here,” England and Jones agreed. England said as he reassured those gathered around that he wasn;t a business person. He said he just enjoys interacting with people and joking around.

“It’s a place where the older men can come tell lies,” he joked.

 The decor in the small store and restaurant tells a country story. England built the lights from chicken feeders out of old chicken houses. He has antiques such as one grandfather’s lunch tin and his other granddads old hard hat. An antique crosscut saw hangs high on the back wall . The front wall is fashioned from trees that were part of the Hope school campus at one time. Several tables in the restaurant are from The City Bakery, another iconic spot for locals. He had an antique corn shucker and an old timey cattle yoking device also on display.

 “ Can you imagine what these trees would say if they could talk? “ he said. The K-A-R-M from Karma  comes from Kris England and Randy Minter. Minter was a part owner with England for a short time. 

The  major change implemented by England from previous owners is that they have turned it from a convenient store to a country restaurant. The menu features a special recipe that was given to England’s mother for Dad’s Hamburgers. Dad’s Burger’s was a family name in these parts along with the City Bakery and Martins Store.He uses as much local produce as possible. He has a  local vendor for his homemade breakfast sausage. The cookies are homemade by his wife. 

  England worked hauling rodeo bulls for a time and said he always found some hole in the wall place that had 50 years of stories associated. That is the kind of environment he has tried to create and seems well on the way.