Kathrine Alderman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Walkers Landmark, known by most as Walkers Pecan House, is a wonderful store located at 16912 US Hwy 19 North, in Lamont. Though just driving by you might mistake it for a simple gas station, this store has much more history and love in it than meets the eye. As Tracy Mertz, co-owner of the store, says, its “a country store that happens to sell gas.”
Walkers Landmark was established by Lyman Walker, III and his wife Ermajean Walker in 1962. Lyman was 20, born in Wacissa and raised in Waukeenah, and Ermajean was 17, born and raised in Greenville, and Walkers Landmark was the first store they had where they owned both the store itself and the land it was on and it has been at its location for 58 years. Now the store is run by the late Lyman and Ermajean's daughter, Sherry Walker, and family friend Tracy Mertz. Walker felt the need to continue the store's legacy, as it was something her parents had worked their whole lives to establish and run. Mertz had been working as the catering director for FSU for many years but when Walker asked if Mertz would like to help out with running the store and keep the tradition alive, she had no reason to refuse. Mertz says she's known the family forever and now gets to use what she knows to do what she loves while keeping the tradition alive and selling quality products.
While the store may be mostly known for their pecans and pecan products, they also sell a variety of other handmade things such as candies, pies, cakes, jellies, jams, pickles, chow chow, pork rinds and syrups. They fry up the pork rinds, or pig chips as they call them, themselves and make fresh pies and cakes every day, selling, on average, about 60 pies and 20 to 25 cakes a week. They also sell lunch items and even sell locally made products, such as soaps and sausages because, as Mertz says, “it's important to support your locals because they're the ones that support us. So that's why we try to have as many local products as possible.”
Walkers Landmark has a clientele ranging from people who are just stopping in because they needed gas, the locals who have been coming for ages, and those that make it a point to stop in on their travels, some of which who have been stopping in for over fifty years.
Not only does Walkers Landmark sell their handmade goodies, but they also do catering and hold events, such as a recent fish fry, and during the holidays they ship out gift baskets to the surrounding areas as well. You don't have to come into the store to buy their products either, as they ship out everywhere, just place an order and they will send it straight to you, or you could call in and come pick it up. Follow Walkers Landmark on Facebook for information on events, ordering, and catering, or call (850)997-2088.
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