Today we’d like to introduce you to David Crane.
Hi David, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m David Crane, the fourth generation of Crane’s Country Store in Williamsburg, Missouri. Our family’s roots in the store business go back to 1889, when we started as the Harrison and Crane Store in Mineola, Missouri — just six miles from where we stand today. Over the years the store went through several names: Crane Bros., Crane’s and Sons, Crane’s Store, and finally Crane’s Country Store.
After World War I, my grandfather Sam Crane came home and purchased an existing store in Williamsburg called the Ham Store. He ran it there until 1926, when Highway 40 was built — the first paved road across mid-Missouri. Sam saw the opportunity and built the current building we’re still in today, right on that new paved road.
Sam ran the store with various clerks over the years, and eventually his son Bill Crane joined him after graduating from the University of Missouri. Sam’s wife, Bernice, retired from teaching to help at the store as well. After Sam passed in the 1960s, Bill and Bernice kept things going together. Later, Bill’s brother Joe — after retiring from a career as a school principal — came on board to help.
In 1995, after graduating from Westminster College and working as a manager and trainer in St. Louis with QuikTrip, I moved back to Williamsburg to take over as proprietor. Bill passed away unexpectedly in 1999, and I’ve been running the store on my own ever since. Over the years I’ve added onto the building three separate times — expanding and organizing the retail space, modernizing the restrooms, and shoring up the foundation — making sure this 100-year-old building and 137-year-old business are ready for whatever comes next.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Retail is never a smooth road, and 137 years gives you plenty of evidence of that. We’ve ridden the ups and downs of the economy through every era. In the early days we were a true general store — there were times during the Depression when money was so scarce that we traded goods for eggs, roots, and arrowheads. For a long stretch we were the closest grocery and hardware store for a 30-mile radius, which kept us essential to the community even through the hard times.
The store’s evolution into what it is today actually came out of a moment of opportunity. In the 1970s, when the Callaway Nuclear Plant was being built nearby, Bill Crane recognized the need and expanded our hard goods line — adding work boots like Wolverine and LaCrosse Rubber Boots, and Carhartt workwear. That pivot set us on the path to becoming the outdoor and workwear retail store we are now.
But the road has never been without bumps. The dot-com bust, the housing market crash, recessions — they all leave a mark. Our core customers are construction workers and farmers, and the reality is simple: when they’re not working, they’re not spending. So when the economy turns, we feel it directly. You learn to be resilient, to adapt, and to take the long view — which is a little easier when your family has been doing this for over a century.
We’ve been impressed with Crane’s Country Store, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We’re known far and wide as the go-to shop for tough, quality brands — broad selection, always fresh each season. On any given day you might find someone picking up Carhartt workwear, a Filson bag, a pair of Danner boots, or a Pendleton blanket alongside smaller but equally great brands like Fjällräven, Smartwool, Duke Cannon, and The Normal Brand. We take real pride in curating a mix that you won’t find just anywhere.
Our billboards and signage sum it up pretty well: Boots, Bullets, Britches, Bologna. That’s not just a catchy tagline — it’s an accurate inventory. We carry work boots and hunting boots, ammunition, clothing for work and weekends, and yes, actual bologna. We make fresh deli sandwiches right in front of you — one meat, one cheese, on white bread. Most run two dollars. Bologna is still a dollar. At lunch we’ll have people lined up for a sammie, a cold glass-bottle Coke, and a bag of locally made Backer’s Chips. It’s a simple thing, but people love it.
Beyond that, we’re proud of the mix we’ve built — gift ideas, women’s and men’s casual and work clothing, candy, BBQ sauces, dog treats, kids’ clothes, and everything in between. There’s genuinely something here for everyone, whether you’re a farmer, a contractor, a hunter, or someone just looking for a great gift. That range, under one roof, in a 100-year-old building in a small Missouri town — that’s what sets us apart.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
We’re about 90 miles west of the Arch, so we experience St. Louis a little differently than most — but we absolutely feel its pull. The metro area keeps growing westward, and with Warrenton just 30 miles away, St. Louis is very much part of our world. A big portion of our customers come from the area, whether they’re passing through on I-70 for work, heading to the Lake of the Ozarks for the weekend, or making the trip to Mizzou for a game or to drop off a kid at school. We also have a wonderful group of St. Louis-area customers who own small farms and land around Williamsburg — a weekend getaway to ride four-wheelers, fish, hunt, and just enjoy the country life. They’ve become some of our most loyal regulars, and we love being part of their escape from the city.
As a family, we’re Cardinals and Blues fans through and through — that’s non-negotiable. And when I do head into the city, the Zoo, the Botanical Garden, and the City Museum are personal favorites. St. Louis has a way of punching above its weight when it comes to world-class attractions that are actually accessible and welcoming to everyone.
If there’s a least favorite, it’s probably just the distance — we wish we were a little closer to more of it, more often. But honestly, being 90 miles west has its own rewards. We get the best of both worlds: the culture and energy of a great American city when we want it, and the quiet of small-town Missouri when we’re home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cranes-country-store.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cranes_country_store/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CranesStore
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cranescountrystore/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CranesCountryStore-xs8dq
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cranes-country-store-williamsburg?osq=Crane%27s+Country+Store
