(PEYTON, Colo.) — The bright red exterior of Maggie’s Corner Store stands out prominently along Highway 24, catching the eyes of those who drive by. However, it’s not just the bold exterior that draws attention; it’s the warmth and dedication of the owners inside that are leaving a mark on the eastern plains.
“It is such a happy place to go, like they know my name, I know their names, and it’s like this entire community,” said Jessica Lee, a customer of Maggie’s Corner Store. “Since we moved out here, our family has just dove into it because I have never seen a community come together so much and help each other so much with everything going on.”
For locals, Maggie’s Corner Store is more than just a convenient stop; it’s a cherished cornerstone of the community, filled with history and stories from over the years. Bonnie Kattau and her husband took over the store with a strong determination to meet the community’s needs by offering the products they desired most.
Many cars and trucks travel along Highway 24 making Maggie’s Corner Store a busy spot.
“It was about a year and a half ago,” Bonnie Kattau, said. “The town had kind of become sleepy, so we wanted to hopefully wake it up, bring it in to as a community and give some place for people to go. Other than having to drive ten miles in any direction to get the supplies that they need.”
With it being easy to spot and right off Highway 24, Kattau understands the convenience of the location and why the spot has become well known over the years, one of the reasons why they kept the original name.
“Maggie’s has been around from what the community has told us 25 to 50 years, well, probably 45 to 60 years actually,” Kattau said. “It was originally owned by a woman named Maggie and it’s been here forever, it seems like. So, we didn’t change the name of Maggie’s when we bought it because this is the meeting point.”
The aisles carry some nostalgia with old-school sweet treats for sale, alongside classic grab-and-go snacks. The owners are not only focused on meeting the community’s needs but also on truly understanding the customers who walk through their doors.
“It brings us together, we’re kind of like a family,” Kattau said. “We get [on a] first name basis, we build relationships. Last year during the rainstorms, everybody came here and they’re like ‘well I’m flooded,’ or ‘I need this,’ or we know who has the trucks, we know who has whatever it is that they need.”
Maggie’s Corner Store is not hard to spot with a bright red exterior and signs on the front.
For individuals like Lee, who call the area home and have few shopping options available, obtaining desired items used to entail a lengthy drive. However, now as a regular customer of the corner store, Lee emphasizes the significance of its presence and convenience.
“This is a two-minute drive for me, everything else is 15 minutes, that’s an extra $7 in fuel going each way in my truck,” Lee said. “I can come here, get for less than what I’m going to spend on fuel in there right here and they’re kind, it is amazing.”
While there are plenty of snacks to satisfy road trip cravings, if you take a closer look into the aisles, you’ll find locally sourced food along with handcrafted items from artists in the area.
“We have consignment,” Kattau said. “We have local artists we support like I said, we’re here for the community, let’s bring the community together. These guys make their products, we sell them on consignment. We have fresh farm eggs that are on consignment, and we just want everybody to come in and enjoy the experience.”
Toward the back of the store lies Bonnie’s Wine & Liquor, offering a wide selection of beverages for adults aged 21 and older.
Next time you’re traveling out to the eastern plains, make a stop at this roadside gem, where dedication and love are infused into every aspect of Maggie’s, ensuring its rich legacy continues to thrive.
