G.C. Welch opened Welch’s Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop in the Hearne Building on North Second Street in Albemarle on May 6, 1938. The business installed new fixtures in early 1941 and added additional booths later that year in May. In March 1942, Welch announced he had opened the Stanly Grill on West Main Street just below the Stanly Theatre. In early August 1945, Welch sold the Stanly Grill to W. W. Ledbetter and his wife. In September, Welch’s Grill was sold to Austin Lee. The Welch’s Grill seems to have closed around the late summer of 1948 as small ads appeared in the newspaper that it was for sale. Wilhelm’s Home and Auto Supply, owned by J.C. Wilhelm, was remodeling the Welch’s location in the fall of 1948 and opened in place of Welch’s Grill on Nov. 16 of that year. On a side note, the Hearne Building where Welch’s Grill was located is no longer standing. {Lewis Bramlett – Stanly County Historical Society}