Produce stand in limbo after string of setbacks

The owners of a local produce stand are still on the move, albeit reluctantly. 

Walt and Sue Taylor, the husband and wife behind Paw Paw’s Produce, ran their roadside fruit and vegetable stand on a Maddox Drive lot near East Ellijay Pawn for 14 years. 

Sue Taylor said the property was sold late last year and a substantial rent increase caused them to start looking for another place to do business.

“The buildings (we use) are ours, but we’re still making payments on them,” she said. “We might could do (the higher rent) in summer, but not in winter.”

Recently, the two moved everything to what they thought would be a good new location off Highland Parkway in East Ellijay. Sue said the spot had been offered to them by some of the landowners who also run Talona Ridge RV Resort. 

Before the two could get set up there, they learned that the property is not commercially zoned and they would have to move again. As they prepared to do so, the perishable fruits and vegetables they hoped to sell went to ruin. 

“We had paid for water, a license and everything. We were (just about to get) the power hooked up,” Sue said. “Tomatoes, cucumbers and all that, it’s already gone. Now we’re just sitting and waiting to open back up.” 

The Taylors, who live in Fannin County, once ran a barbecue restaurant and Walt, 82, had sold produce several years ago when he was younger. Better known by his nickname, “Paw Paw,” Walt also previously worked in construction and as a fireman. At one time, he was Fannin’s fire chief, Sue noted. 

“He built the first fire truck Fannin County ever had. That was in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s,” she said. “We’ve done a lot of benefits for people and a whole lot of different things (like that over the years). We’ve worked hard to do good for the county.”

The two have worked hard to expand their roadside business over the years. Walt sold the produce out of a truck until the former owner of the Maddox Drive property suggested he put up a stand there, Sue noted. They later added some trailers, which allowed them to carry more types of fruits and vegetables, as well as canned goods like jellies. 

Paw Paw’s has gained a band of loyal customers who frequent the stand to converse with the owners and for the farm fresh produce, much of which comes from Amish farms in Tennessee.

“All our stuff is farm fresh. They pick it fresh daily, and it’s never put in a cooler, which breaks down vegetables,” Sue said. “We’ve had tomatoes, potatoes, squash, okra, cucumbers, beans, cabbage, watermelon, peaches, berries ... we’ve had it all.” 

Finding themselves without a stable location to do business is the latest in an ongoing string of setbacks for the couple.

Walt broke his neck in 2017 and later injured one of his legs, which required medical attention. Sue, 71, also has bad trouble with her back. The two senior citizens rely on the produce stand for their income, and they were able to keep it going year-round even with the health issues. 

“Ever since Paw Paw fell and broke his neck, it’s like everybody’s just drug us around the moon,” Sue said.

It looked like a new place for Paw Paw’s, this time near Highway 515 Lumber on Talona Road, was going to work out, but now there’s another snag. 

Sue said they’ve since learned that the buildings, which had already been moved to the location, will need to be hooked up to a septic system even though they don’t have rest rooms.

The Gilmer County Environmental Health office referenced Georgia’s “two-hour rule,” which says a building, residence or property designed or intended for human occupancy or congregation for two hours or more must have an approved septic system if public or community sewer is not available.

With their business in limbo, that’s an unforeseen expense the Taylors are unable to bear.

Labor Day weekend usually brings good business for Paw Paw’s, but Walt and Sue were forced to sit the most recent one out. Without a place to set up, their income is at a standstill while the bills continue to mount. Now, it looks like they’ll have to get their buildings moved again, which requires a specialized mover. 

“We’ve been out of work for two weeks now, and we have to work,” said Sue. 

The Taylors are still looking for a new retail location, which must have electricity, water, sewer/septic and be a minimum of 65 feet from the roadway. 

They want to continue to do business here, but the costs involved to meet those requirements may cause them to leave Gilmer County. If a new spot is found, they will also have to replenish their produce inventory before everything can get back up and running.

“Everybody wants us to stay in Ellijay. We’ve had so many people come by asking us when we’re going to be open, but I can’t do this all the time. We’re too old for this. It’s been really bad on both of us,” Sue said.

A GoFundMe account (Help Sue and Walt Rebuild Paw Paw’s) has been set up to help the Taylors reopen.