25 Charming General Stores Across the Country

This 3,000-square-foot shop dates back to 1809 and is packed full of farmhouse-style home accessories, including furniture, lighting, quilts, and fabric by the yard. The store also features an old-fashioned candy display case brimming with treats.

Founded in 1872, this store harks back to the warm hospitality found in the local shops of yesteryear. The carefully selected goods include a variety of sauces, spreads, and soaps.

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If you were to close your eyes and imagine what a classic American general store should look like, you might picture something like the Cataract General Store. This shop first opened its doors in 1860 and continues to offer a wide range of wares—just steps away from a beautiful waterfall.

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This Route 66 pit stop has been operating since 1925 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beneath its tin ceiling you’ll find produce, a deli counter, memorabilia, and an array of local handicrafts, flowers, and other decorative pleasures. 

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At one time the focal point of the small community of Edge, Texas, this store dates back to 1907. It was remodeled in 2007 after having stood empty for 40 years, and today it stocks a selection of gifts, serves lunch and dinner (and ice cream treats), and hosts live music events.

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Built in 1895, this store has been family owned and operated for 120 years and has evolved to serve the needs of the modern community. Patrons can browse selections of the best Vermont maple syrup as well as gifts, novelties, and clothing.

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Set alongside a winding bayou, this general store served the river-port town as early as the 1870s and continues to stock a variety of goods and treats, including the store’s homemade pecan pralines.

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This three-story general store dates back to 1916. It sells souvenirs and an assortment of goods, and it also houses a full-service restaurant and a small museum.

Built in 1934, this general store stocks an array of gifts and goods and offers a full-service bakery and deli that’s open from May to October. The building also serves as a local post office and features a lovely antique cash register.

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Visitors to the Clark Store can grab spectacular views of Sand Mountain along with their groceries, sundries, and gifts. The store also sells liquor (including a fine selection of craft beers), organic local produce, and ice cream. It provides a full deli menu with freshly prepared sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items—and nearby picnic tables where you can savor your purchases.

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Located near the entrance to Yellowstone National Park, this general store is a good place to buy a fishing license and sporting goods. The store, which dates back to the late 1880s, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Enjoy the best of Appalachian culture in this store that doubles as a live music and dance venue on the weekends. The establishment considers itself an “incubator” of local heritage and features a café and a quirky collection of local and regional goods.

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Visiting The Brick Store is like stepping back in time. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is recognized as America’s oldest continuously operating general store. The shop, which opened in the 1790s, is known for its smokehouse meats, maple syrup, and homemade fudge.

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The village of Caledonia boasts dozens of homes and businesses that are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Old Village Mercantile, which stocks a whopping 600 varieties of candy.

Built in 1876 as the town was recovering from a devastating flood, Williamsburg General Store still serves as a community hub today and retains many of its original features.

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What was once a general store for guests summering along the shores of Lake Minnetonka in the 1890s has now earned a reputation as a beloved neighborhood gathering place. The seasonal store sells ice cream, baked goods, and coffee, and hosts a variety of community events.

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This quirky shop was founded during the Great Depression and gained local fame in the 1980s, thanks to its delightful TV commercials. The family-owned novelty store has expanded and now occupies multiple buildings decorated with red and white awnings and gingerbread trim.

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When it briefly closed in 2007, Colebrook Store was the oldest continually operating store in Connecticut; its doors had been open for 195 years! It reopened in 2014 and now carries groceries and candies and serves sandwiches, homemade soups, and chili to its loyal customers.

Located near the terminal for White’s Ferry, which shuttles vehicles across the Potomac River, this shop has survived several floods. Marks on the building’s facade testify to its survivor status. 

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This charming landmark served as a livery stable until 1912. Today, it carries an eclectic mix of merchandise, including candles, clothing, housewares, and more than 100 kinds of old-fashioned candy.

This general store in the heart of Amish country specializes in bulk products suitable for feeding large families. It also stocks 150 varieties of glass-bottle soda and “penny candy” that still costs just a penny.

This little store, which dates back to 1869, includes a full-service restaurant and a patio where customers can enjoy live music and special events.

Opened in 1927, this family-owned store is known for its homemade smoked sausage, still cooked the way Grandma Mary Bradley used to make it. Bradley’s sells a variety of meats and cheeses as well as other goodies.

Located in the German-settled village of Amana, the general store sells its own heritage brands of coffees, teas, spreads, and pickles. The store is part of a group of community shops that also sell furniture and textiles crafted by local tradespeople.

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In this inviting general store, you can find locally raised buffalo meat as well as jellies, jams, and homemade baked goods. The two-story shop also sells housewares and knickknacks, and has a full restaurant.