You walk in planning to grab one loaf of bread, and somehow you walk out carrying three bags. That is the kind of trouble waiting inside a modest storefront in a small Central Texas town, where the smell of fresh baking hits you before the door even closes.
The shelves are packed with homemade breads, fried pies, jams, and old-fashioned candy, and the sandwiches alone have people driving in from across the state. If you love Texas places that skip the trends and simply do things the old way, this one belongs on your list.
A Downtown Corner Store in Itasca
Right on West Main Street in downtown Itasca sits a country store that looks humble from the sidewalk. Olde Towne Country Store, at 102 W Main St, carries a Pennsylvania Dutch spirit that feels a long way from big-box grocery aisles.
Officially, it is a grocery store. In practice, it is part bakery, part deli, part candy shop, and part pantry for serious home cooks.
Visitors often describe it as a farmer’s market feel, all tucked under one roof.
Getting there is easy for travelers heading up or down I-35. Regulars point out that it sits only about a mile off the interstate between Fort Worth and Waco, which makes it an ideal stop for anyone tired of drive-through lunches.
Small towns across Texas hide plenty of surprises, but few pack this much flavor into one modest building. Before you even reach the deli counter, the shelves start working on your willpower.
From Grandview Roots to a Bigger Home
Long before Itasca, many fans knew this bakery’s bread from a stand at the Grand Prairie Farmer’s Market. When that vendor stopped coming, loyal customers simply followed the bread to its source in Grandview.
The Miller family ran The Country Store there for years. In 2017, they partnered with James and Jennifer Martin, experienced country store owners who had moved to Itasca in 2014, and Olde Towne Country Store opened its doors.
Longtime shoppers noticed the upgrade right away. One regular estimated the new spot is about twice the size of the old one, with roughly eight tables for eating in, and the move took the store about 13 miles south.
What did not change was the food. The same baked goods and deli meats came along, so old customers from Grandview still make the trip just to stock up on favorites.
Sandwiches Built on Homemade Bread
Ask almost anyone why they stopped here, and the answer is usually a sandwich. The deli is the beating heart of the place, and the line can get long around lunchtime.
Ordering has a charming, old-school twist. You fill out a paper sheet in the back with your choices, and the crew starts building as soon as you hand it over.
Options include a sandwich, a wrap, or a 6-inch or 12-inch sub.
Size is no joke here. One longtime fan noted the 6-inch sub was far bigger than chain versions and once cost about $4.99, though prices can change over time.
Visitors keep describing the sandwiches as fresh, stacked, and made quickly.
The real secret is the bread. Every sandwich rests on loaves baked from scratch, including jalapeño cheese, sourdough, apple, and cinnamon toast bread.
Pair yours with the chicken salad sandwich, a regular favorite, and lunch suddenly becomes the highlight of the drive.
Lebanon Bologna, Cajun Turkey, and Horseradish Cheddar
Picture a deli case where classic roast beef and cooked ham share space with Lebanon bologna and Cajun turkey. That mix of familiar and unusual is exactly what keeps people coming back.
Cheese lovers get their own playground. Beyond cheddar and Swiss, the counter offers flavored varieties like country bacon cheese, horseradish cheddar, and habanero jalapeño cheddar, all sliced fresh to order.
Plenty of shoppers come just for meat by the pound. One devoted customer drove a long way primarily for German bologna and left with two pounds of it, plus a whole lot more he had not planned on.
Hosting a family gathering? Party trays of deli meats and cheeses are available too.
It is a smart way to bring a little Pennsylvania Dutch flavor to your next holiday table without lifting a knife.
The Jalapeño Cheese Bread Everyone Talks About
Some loaves earn a fan club. Jalapeño cheese bread is that loaf here, and regulars practically insist you do not leave without one.
It is soft, a little spicy, and studded with cheese, the kind of bread people admit to eating straight from the bag. One shopper confessed to finishing four slices the same afternoon, tucked around German bologna.
A large jalapeño loaf has been listed at around $6.99, with sourdough white bread near $4.59. Prices may shift, but either way it is a fair deal for something baked by hand.
The bakery’s other loaves deserve attention too. Cinnamon raisin bread, apple bread, and cinnamon toast bread all make strong cases for a spot in your bag.
Still, if you buy only one loaf, most fans will point you straight to the jalapeño cheese.
Fried Pies and Other Sweet Temptations
Eight fried pies. That is how many one honest shopper bought on a single visit, adding that two vanished before the drive home was over.
Flavors run from apple, peach, and apricot to pecan, chocolate, and coconut. They are flaky, handheld, and dangerously easy to justify as a road snack.
Whole pies tempt from the shelves too. Apple and peach have been listed around $20, while buttermilk and French coconut sit near $16, and smaller half-size pies help if you are trying to show a little restraint.
Then come the extras. Chocolate or pumpkin whoopie pies run about $3.49, brownies around $2.39, and a dozen cookies near $8.29.
Sweet breads like banana nut, pumpkin, and cream cheese pound cake sell for about $6.49, and one visitor raved about a huge cinnamon roll with maple glaze. Fridays tend to bring the fullest bakery shelves.
Aisles of Jams, Candy, and Hard-to-Find Ingredients
Wander away from the bakery and the shelves keep going. Jams, jellies, salsas, and artisan barbecue sauces line up in colorful rows, some with fun names that catch your eye.
Old-fashioned candy is a big draw for kids and grownups alike. Shoppers mention filling little tubs with sweets, and wild cherry gummy bears and homemade candy both get happy mentions.
Cooks and bakers find real treasures here. Many staples are repackaged in bulk for freshness and value, including flours, grains, nuts, spices, herbs, pastas, soup mixes, and baking mixes.
Local honey, golden flaxseed, and Amish roll butter have all landed in shoppers’ bags.
Gluten-free and organic options are on hand too, alongside teas, coffees, and drink mixes. One visitor joked that the shelves make you wish the store had shopping carts, and honestly, that is fair.
Craft Sodas, Sweet Tea, and Little Surprises
Thirsty travelers will find coolers in the back stocked with cold bottled drinks. There is no fountain machine, which somehow fits the old-timey mood just right.
Craft sodas are a fun discovery. Visitors have spotted Dublin sodas, a beloved Texas name, and seemed thrilled to see them.
Sweet tea and Peach Joe Tea have also shown up in happy lunch stories.
Near the dining tables, there is a coffee station as well. It makes a handy companion for a cinnamon roll on a cool morning drive.
Beyond the food, the store carries kitchen supplies and charming gift boxes. Shoppers often plan ahead for birthdays and Christmas, grabbing jams, candy, and sauces as presents that feel personal instead of store-bought from a chain.
An Unhurried Room Full of Friendly Faces
Friendliness comes up again and again when people describe this place. Staff are cheerful, quick, and happy to explain how products are made, and even fellow shoppers tend to chat and share tips.
The vibe feels Amish-inspired and old-timey, with hand-baked goods everywhere you look. Nothing is flashy, and that is the whole point.
Up front, a small dining area with around eight tables sits near the checkout. During busy lunches, most seats fill with folks digging into subs while others roam the aisles.
It suits a lot of travelers. Families on weekend drives, mothers and daughters on lunch outings, couples hunting gifts, and I-35 commuters all fit right in.
On hot Texas summer days, the cool indoor shopping and a cold soda make a welcome break from the highway.
Hours, Directions, and Planning Tips
Timing matters, especially if you want the best bakery selection. Hours are 8 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Wednesday, 8 am to 6 pm on Thursday and Friday, and 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday.
The store is closed on Sunday, and hours may vary, so a quick call to 254-687-5052 can help.
Fridays tend to have the most freshly baked goods on the shelves. Arriving before the lunch rush also helps you skip the longest deli line.
Directions are simple. The store sits just off I-35, roughly a mile from the interstate.
One helpful visitor noted that some map apps place the pin a bit west of its true spot, so follow the downtown Main Street address.
Bring a cooler if you have a long drive. Deli meats, cheeses, and butter travel far better when kept cold, and you will almost certainly buy more than planned.
Why the Detour Pays Off
Three bags, one receipt, zero regrets. That is how many trips here seem to end, and fans would not have it any other way.
Olde Towne Country Store does not chase trends or try to look modern. It simply bakes good bread, stacks generous sandwiches, and fills shelves with things you will not spot at the usual supermarket.
Prices stay friendly for what you get, and the staff makes everyone feel like a regular. For Texans who believe the best finds live on the back roads, this little Itasca shop proves the point.
So next time you are cruising between Fort Worth and Waco, take the exit. Grab a sub, pick up that jalapeño cheese bread, and maybe a fried pie or two for the road.
