| Payne's Store, c. 1926 |
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In 1926 Irvin Payne purchased an acre of land, part of the Royal Oaks farm, and constructed a store soon after the opening of Lee Highway.
The road brought a boom to real estate in Centreville due to increasing motor-car travel and the proximity to Civil War historic sites.
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Irvin Payne owned three stores: in Bailey's Crossroads, Oakton, and Centreville. In 1930, Payne leased
5400 square feet of land at the intersection of Lee Highway and Braddock Road to The Texas Company (Texaco)
for a rent of one cent for each gallon of gasoline sold.
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Irvin Payne's son, Jimmie Payne, operated
the Centreville store beginning in 1931. He and his family lived in the rooms on the second floor above the store. On September 27, 1935, the Fairfax Herald featured a short
news account about the store.
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Payne's Store Lacks Nothing In Its Range of Stock, Complete Service: With the interests of his customers at heart,
J.M Payne, directing head of Payne's Store at Centerville, has proven his efficiency and knowledge of the area's needs
by incorporating the best service methods and wide range of stock in his popular enterprise. He established his present
business four years ago, after having had five years' previous experience as operator of his own service station at South
Washington, Va. In opening the general store Mr. Payne had the faithful and continued assistance of his wife, Bernice, who
has been indispensable to him in his business ventures. The store offers a full line of general merchandise, with needs for
table, person, farm and home very much in evidence. Automobile requirements are represented in Texaco products, Goodyear
tires and Federal batteries. The store's feature is beer, ale and wine on and off sale.
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 The first floor of the building was occupied by Jamie's General Bean, a coffee shop that continued the tradition of
being a community gathering spot. The atmosphere at Jamie's was reminiscent of the historic community store.
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