Prince Brothers General Store-Berry Store

Overview

A time capsule from the New River coalfield days, the Prince Brothers General Store (often called the Berry Store) sits along WV‑41 in the town of Prince. It’s managed by the National Park Service, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and—importantly—closed to the public, so you’re here for a quick exterior look rather than an interior tour. The simple Boomtown‑style facade tells the story of a rare independent store that served miners beyond the reach of company scrip.

Why it matters

Opened in 1872 by the Prince family, the store thrived thanks to its spot beside the C&O main line, moving everything from food to furniture fast across nearby coal towns. Business jumped again after a 1901 rail bridge connected both sides of the river. Later known locally as “Monk’s Store” under owner Herman Monk (from 1944), the last operator was Edna Mae Berry. It closed in 1984 and remains preserved as a touchstone to the area’s commercial life outside company control.

Visiting now (keep expectations modest)

• Exterior‑only: the building isn’t open to visitors. Plan for a quick pull‑off, a photo or two, and then continue your day.
• Pair it with Prince Depot next door: rail and architecture fans tend to hit both in the same stop; the Amtrak Cardinal still serves the depot three days a week.
• No facilities here: for restrooms, use the park’s visitor centers (Canyon Rim, Sandstone, Grandview, or seasonal Thurmond Depot) rather than the store site.

What’s changing

The National Park Service is moving forward with demolishing a number of deteriorated historic structures in the park. The Prince Brothers General Store is among those slated to be removed, with work expected as early as winter 2026–27. If this spot is on your list, see it sooner rather than later [wvgazettemail.com](https://www.wvgazettemail.com/outdoors/ruling-prince-brothers-store-12-other-historic-gorge-structures-to-be-demolished/article_76d33f71-c169-413c-93c4-5243018fe814.html), [therealwv.com](https://therealwv.com/2025/07/28/national-park-service-to-move-ahead-with-demolition-of-historical-structures-within-the-new-river-gorge-park/), [pawv.org](https://www.pawv.org/endanger/category/summers-county).

Best time to visit

It’s an exterior‑only stop, so any daylight hour works. If you want a little extra atmosphere, time your swing‑by to coincide with one of the days the Amtrak Cardinal serves the Prince Depot next door.