In late January, an out of town friend came to Susanville, with a possibility of cross country skiing, or to see if I was able enough to try snowshoes. Those options did not quite pan out, so off to do some sight seeing and exploring. While my intent was to see Taylorsville and Genesee Valley, I thought our visit was going to brief, since there was one area I wanted to check out the snow conditions, before sunset. Anyhow, the old Genesee Store has been restored and converted into a restaurant. I was under the impression that they were closed in the winter. My friend, whose inquisitive nature, noticed activity and went and knocked on the door, as they were closed. They would be open that evening and if we came back at five, they could fit us in, as they were booked with reservations. It was a great dinner and highly recommend it.
Here is some background about the place. Edwin D. Hosselkus (1828-1892) was a native of New York but grew up in Illinois. It was at the latter where he worked as a clerk in a general mercantile store, and a good experience for him. In 1852, like so many before and after him, was lured to California. In 1854, he opened a store in Elizabethtown, Plumas County. In 1856, he relocated to Taylorsville, where he went into partnership with I.J. Harvey in a general store. 1862 was a pivotal year for Hosselkus. At the time, he purchased land in Genesee Valley. In another bold move, Hosselkus & Harvey relocated their store to Susanville. For a time, it was the largest store of its kind in the Honey Lake Valley. In 1865, Hosselkus and Harvey parted company, with Hosselkus moving to his property at Genesee Valley. There he opened a store and established the Genesee Post Office on September 19, 1865 and served as the first postmaster—he remained in that capacity until his death. The Hosselkus ranch remained in the family until the 1950s, the store having been closed years ago. Several years ago, the old store was brought back to life as a restaurant, and its worth trip for the food and see the country if you have never been there.