The store has played an important part in Hamburg's community life. Thompson Strickler, who lived next door, built the frame building, which at that time had only one floor. Strickler's son Benton operated the Eura post office from the store between 1898 and 1905. The store included an innovative feature to secure the building against break-ins— hinged paneled shutters, stored in pockets at the two front corners, that fold out to cover the display windows. Iron bars drop down to hold the shutters in place. The shutter panels, with the paneled aprons under the display windows, also create a decorative front to the building. By 1930 a second story had been added. The store has a parapet-shed roof and a two-tier front porch.