Giving up a well-established business and their jobs, James and Linda Wilhelm packed their bags and moved to Scottsville.
“It was our dream since we got married to own our own Grocery,” said Linda.
The pair moved from Tennessee, where she was a plant manager and he owned a restaurant, in 1978. After coming to Scottsville, James, 52, and Linda, 36, bought a small, one-room grocery near the Barren River Reservoir.
That grocery, the J & L Market, is now one of the largest businesses on the lake front. It sells gas, deli food, fishing gear and camping supplies, in addition to groceries.
Part of the reason for the business’ success is because “they’re good people,’ one patron said.
Fishermen say they go out of their way to stop at the market for bait.
“They give you enough minnows for your money,” said one Fayette County woman.
“We don’t count ’em,” Linda said, “We just dip’ em.”