Vicksburg, Mississippi: Folk Art Grocery Store Ruins

The Rev. Herman Dennis promised his wife Margaret that he'd build her something incredible. It involved a lot of colorful cinder blocks and big signs. After they died, Margaret's Grocery fell into disrepair, but a nonprofit group has begun its restoration.

Margaret's Grocery

Address:: 4535 N. Washington St., Vicksburg, MS
Directions:: North of the city on old US Hwy 61, which runs nearer to the river than the new bypass. I-20 exit 5 onto US Hwy 61 north. Drive north for 5.5 miles, then turn left onto old US Hwy 61/Washington St. Drive south for 1.5 miles.

Results 1 to 5 of 6... Page of 2 [Next 1 items]

Visitor Tips and News About Folk Art Grocery Store Ruins

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Margaret's Grocery

Margaret's Grocery, an iconic art environment in Vicksburg, is currently closed for repairs. Please contact me at 601-668-9611 if you have any questions or want a tour of the site. The hidden entrance from the trailer has been sealed shut to protect Margaret's Grocery.

[Suzi Altman, 04/01/2018]

Folk art.

Folk Art Grocery Store Ruins

Interesting to look at and see the history of something, but wouldn't drive too far out of your way to visit.

[Jeanna, 08/07/2014]

It's lost a lot of sparkle since folk artist Reverend H.D. Dennis departed.

Remains of folk art.

Grocery Store Covered in Folk Art

Not worth the effort. Falling apart with many of the signs torn down and deteriorating.

[Craig, 06/22/2012]

Co-owners Margaret and Herman "Preacher" Dennis have both died: Margaret at 94 in 2009, Herman at 96 in 2012. July 2013: Photo added.

Margaret's Folk Art-Covered Grocery

We were SO disappointed that the store/church was locked up -- and looked like it had been for quite some time. The once-colorful decorations and signs are crumbling and falling apart. We did not learn what has become of Margaret and her husband. It's still worth a look-see as a tribute to love, faith and folk art.

[Sibyl, Marc and Moo, 04/15/2010]

Folk Art Church

I attended a film festival at UNC-Chapel Hill where a grad student screened a documentary on this church and the people that live there. They are an elderly, elderly African-American couple. The husband is a preacher and is the one who built the church, apparently over a span of about thirty years. He is a mason, and therefore has dubbed the church "The Home of the Double Eagle". The actual chapel is the pink bus parked around back, the interior of which is entirely covered in small toys, flowers, buttons, rhinestones, Christian iconography, and other bric-a-brac).

The preacher is half-deaf and his speech is fairly unintelligible, but he remains surprisingly spunky; his wife is also friendly and they are receptive to visitors. The inside of their house is another treat; like the inside of the bus-chapel, the walls are completely covered in a three-dimensional collage of colorful junk that incorporates everything from mardi gras beads to personal photos and clippings about the church.

[Alicia Gurley, 05/20/2007]

Page of 2 [Next 1 items]