Benet Store (St. Augustine)

Pedro Benet's application for leave to remove his retail liquor shop from the southeast (the current reconstructed Benet House) to the southwest corner of St. George and Cuna Streets is recorded in the City Council Minute Book of October 13, 1840.

Before Pedro Benet purchased 62 St. George Street from the Pons heirs, Benet operated his own store on the ground floor of his own house across the street, as evidenced through taxes he paid on stock at $16 per year for shop licenses.

The general store remained in existence until the late 19th century, when a notice in an 1887 newspaper appeared ordering the sale of Pedro Benet's property.

It was reconstructed as a 19th century general store; sausage stuffers, a cabbage shredder, an auger, hand wrought shears, and tongs hung from the ceiling.

There were barrels of food throughout the store and announcements for ship arrivals into the port of St. Augustine lined the walls.