Little has been documented about prominent Lee businessman John T. Collins. In 1879, he opened a general store within a rented space in downtown Lee. Five years later, Collins purchased a building (shown above) from merchant Leroy Kellogg in South Lee and relocated his store. Mr. Collins’ son Carl took over operation of the popular store in 1932. Other family members, including Robert Collins, lived in an apartment above the store.
Carl Collins announced his retirement in 1958 and closed the store. He explained that he had taken only one week’s vacation in 26 years. The store remained vacant for several years and was sold out of the family. By the early 1980s, an antiques shop was operating at this location.
In 2017, Collins family members announced they had repurchased the property with plans to reopen the historic store. Presently the store is open on some weekends, operating as an indoor tag-sale venue.
