Hartford Welcomes New General Store

By Tammy Moore Teague
West Hartford residents, Keith and Tracy Dedmon saw a need in their beloved hometown and set out to fulfil it. The Dedmons, who grew up in Waldron, moved to the Hartford area in 2017. “After moving to Hartford we realized there are people here who don’t have the resources to get to Fort Smith or Greenwood for food and necessities,” commented Tracy Dedmon.  The solution was to open up a store, the Hartford General Store.

In July of this year, the business opened its doors on Main Street.   “We decided we would like to do what we could to help out the community, and we are trying to do that by passing on the good deals we get.”  The location was available and suited the Dedmon’s mission to cater to the needs of Hartford residents. “We wanted to be on the Main Street so we would be easy to find,” added Tracy Dedmon.
The duo, who also own KAST Construction, worked hard to get the operation up and going, but it was well worth it. “My favorite thing about the store is the people who come in every morning at 7 a.m.,” she added. “There are several men here to drink coffee and eat breakfast. It is so much fun to hear their stories and it seems like everyone who lives here has an interesting story to tell.”
The store is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and is closed on Sunday. The Dedmons do plan to expand in the future, making it a “real general store.” They also offer biscuits and gravy in the mornings, sandwiches during the day and are planning to add soup and other things to the menu.
The Dedmons have three children, Keith Allen, Seth and Taely. Additionally, they have one precious grandson, Kason. You can find the Hartford General Store on their Facebook Page