Musicians participate in the Old-Time Mountain Music Jam at The Hunkerdown .
Story and photos by Jenny Harnish
For years and years the only business still open in the unincorporated community of Sinks Grove in Monroe County was the tiny post office . But old-timers in the area could remember a time when the town had a barber shop , a saloon , a gas station , a hotel and a general store .
In December of 2023 the community celebrated opening another set of doors – The Hunkerdown , a coffee shop and bakery in the town ’ s newly renovated general store building .
Since then owners Tammy and Guy McAninch have added a full sandwich menu , pastry items from a local baker , a retail space and community events .
“ Our main goal when we opened was to add to the community , and so we ’ ve added the retail and brought in lots of community crafters and products ,” said Tammy . “ It ’ s a wide variety and changes all the time .”
The couple recently partnered with Mary Dailey and Cheryl Mansley of the
Appalachian vocal duo Little Maggie to bring Old-Time Mountain Music Jam to The Hunkerdown . The jams take place once a month on Sundays and feature a variety of local musicians playing old-time acoustic music .
“ When we decided to do a jam , we
Patrons eat soup and enjoy live music during an Old-Time Mountain Music Jam at The Hunkerdown in Sinks Grove . thought The Hunkerdown would be a good place to do it because it ’ s community oriented and it ’ s a nice space ,” said Mansley . “ We want our jams to be the type where it ’ s not just for the musicians , it ’ s also for the folks who aren ’ t going to play music who want to be able to enjoy it . It ’ s really fun when the whole room is singing .”
Tammy said the jams have helped bring in a lot of new people . On a recent Sunday the room was filled with musicians playing a variety of instruments , kids playing board games , folks eating soup and drinking coffee . All the soups and Saturday ’ s biscuits and gravy are made from scratch using as many organic ingredients as possible . The coffee is roasted locally from Mountain Table Coffee .
“ Our goal was making it a spot for the community to hang out ‘ cause there ’ s nothing really here ,” said Guy . The space is also available for private events . ❖
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