It has been a community staple for more than 130 years, and Wilbur’s General Store is now in the hands of a couple who were born and lived most of their lives in Little Compton.

Catherine and David Wordell, whose extended family's 50 Commons LLC has owned the building since 2018, purchased the business and its inventory from the Wetzel family last Friday, Jan. 2. The Wetzels had leased the building from the LLC since 2019, but had run the store for longer; former proprietor Linda Wetzel operated the store since 2004 before giving up the lease, which ended on Dec. 31, 2025.

“We knew eventually that someone was going to want to take over the store and Linda’s lease was up and Dave and I have lived in this community our whole lives. We love it here and we took the plunge,” Catherine said.

Catherine, who called herself a former “worker for corporate America,” said owning and operating the store allows her and her husband, a plumber by trade, to foster the small-town charm that Little Compton has had her whole life.

“We want to have that community feel again,” she said. “We’re in it for the long haul.”

That community feel has been lost in recent years, with the demise of The Barn, Simmons and others — “Not much is left here now,” she said.

But as the mother of young children who wants them to know the Little Compton she's long loved, Catherine said she wants landmarks like Wilbur’s around for the long term. Keeping the town's culture alive played a huge part in why they took over the store in the first place, she said.

Both Catherine and David have long memories of the store, which was originally founded by CR Wilbur in 1893. For them, it has been a one-stop shop for just about anything, from food to clothing to household items and staples.

Not much has changed over the years, and the new owners aim to keep that tradition of the local community store going into its new era.

“No big changes,” Catherine said. “We’re working on improving and keeping the same feel, the same vibe.”

The goal is to have a spot where residents can walk in, grab a bite to eat from the deli counter, and do all their local shopping. Quickly, the family has seen a positive response.

“I just had a customer yesterday come in and say, ‘We miss having a place where we can all come together.’" Catherine said. "It was a nice moment.”

Long history in Little Compton

The Wordell extended family has a long and storied history in Little Compton, going back to ancestor Gershom Wordell’s settlement in the mid-1700s. Family members have been involved in many facets of the town since, and relatives owned and operated the Barn before its sale in October 2024. Both Catherine and David were born and raised in town, going through the school system and growing up amid its unique culture.

“She had left for a while, I never left,” David said. “Everyone speaks to the draw of Little Compton.”

“When you’re not in Little Compton, you miss Little Compton,” Catherine added.

The couple's two children, Zeke, 10, and Grace, 11 approve. When asked if they were excited about their parents keeping the store alive for their generation to enjoy, they both smiled and simply said “Yes.”

This is the couple's first foray into running a store but they said they have a good team around, including long-time store workers and extended family members, helping to steer the ship into the new year.