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The city of Tupelo is buying the store where the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” got his first guitar.
Officials announced Tuesday that the city has reached an agreement with the Booth family, the owners of Tupelo Hardware Company, to purchase the famous store. The deal comes after the Tupelo City Council voted unanimously to buy two of the three buildings that support Tupelo Hardware Company, along with the Court Street parking lot adjacent to one of the buildings.
“Tupelo Hardware Company is an important part of Tupelo’s history,” Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan said. “The opportunity to acquire these historic buildings ensures that Tupelo’s story will continue to unfold and that citizens and visitors from around the world will always be able to walk through the doors at 114 West Main Street.”
Tupelo Hardware Company was founded in 1926 by George H. Booth. The store played an integral role in Elvis Presley’s story, being the place where his mother bought his first guitar in 1946 as an 11th birthday gift. As a landmark in the life of one of the greatest icons in American music history, Tupelo Hardware is a tourist hotspot, bringing in local and international visitors looking to learn more about Presley.
The Booths recently announced plans to close the business by Dec. 31, prompting city leaders to act promptly. After going into executive session last week over the prospect of purchasing what, at the time, was unspecified property, the city council made arrangements to buy the store.
“This purchase offers us the tremendous opportunity to save a historic building in Downtown Tupelo, but more importantly, it enables us to preserve a piece of American history and continue to share the story of Elvis’ famous purchase with visitors to Tupelo,” Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director Stephanie Coomer said.
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