As you walk down the historic streets of downtown Jonesborough, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve taken a step back in time. The buildings you see as you explore Main Street have just as much of a history as the little town they were built in. Known as the Storytelling Capital of the World, each of the buildings offer their own special story. One of these buildings that really tends to stand out is Mauk’s of Jonesborough.
Mauk’s of Jonesborough is widely recognized as the area’s exclusive dealer of Ekornes Stressless chairs and sofas, which are made in Norway.
But long before the building became known for selling comfortable furniture, it was used as a pharmacy, post office, doctor’s office, taxi stand, and even a restaurant known as “Mom’s Porch.”
“I remember delivering newspapers here as a kid and it was a drug store back then.” Said the owner, Joel Conger. Joel acquired the Mauk’s building in 2005, but moved to Jonesborough back when he was only 2 years old, so he has seen the town go through a world of changes.
“Through the years you’ll see faces and businesses come and go, but the one good thing that always stays is the integrity of the buildings and the people.”
Integrity has seemed to always be a theme for Jonesborough. During the late 1800s, the town of Jonesborough was devastated by multiple fires. Fires were such a problem back then that the townspeople organized bucket brigades to combat the blazes, but were woefully ineffective in curbing the fire early. On New Year’s Eve of 1873, a massive fire spread throughout town, wiping out many of the buildings on West Main Street. Mauk’s was one of the few structures still standing after the great fire of Jonesborough in 1873.
If you take a trip upstairs in Mauk’s, you’ll be met with the remnants of what was once a dine-in restaurant called “Mom’s Porch”. Many of the historic buildings in Jonesborough like to highlight Andrew Jackson’s stay in town while he was awaiting a caravan to travel westward. With this being said, it’s only right to have a sign that reads “Moms Porch, Andrew Jackson never ate here, but would have if he could have cooking by somebody’s mom” to welcome you once you reach the top step.
The coolest part is that there is an actual porch on the second floor with rocking chairs where you can sit and rock. When you enter Mauk’s today, you’ll find a store that has a little bit of something for everyone including furniture, clocks, collectibles, jellies, and greeting cards.
Mauk’s invites you to come and sit a spell, maybe even swap a story or two. It’s a great place to find Howard Miller clocks, Tilley hats, Byers Choice figurines, Willow Tree collectibles, Lampe Berger fragrance lamps, and much more. Come see for yourself why this store remains a center piece of historic Jonesborough.