By Town Vines Staff
In 1866, just after the Civil War, Jakob Hauenstein returned to Tell City and farmed land on the edge of town while opening a small harness shop to serve the horse-and-buggy era. Nearly 160 years later, that same family business is still welcoming customers through its front doors.
Owner John Hauenstein notes he’s only the fourth generation, even though the business has existed for almost 160 years. The store has been where children picked out their first custom T-shirt, where teenagers bought their first pair of Levi’s, and where families shopped for weddings and funerals alike—greeted not as customers, but by name.
Today, Hauenstein’s continues to adapt, offering clothing, gifts, shipping services, storage rentals, screen printing and homemade fudge. For many in Perry County, Hauenstein’s has never just been a business—it has been a part of their family’s story.