In Search of the Old Fashioned General Store

by Tom Bastek
Last updated: 5:00 AM ET, Wed January 14, 2015

There are many memories that are recalled when the words "General Store" are mentioned. It was the store where you bought hunting and fishing equipment, ammo and bait. For others it was the place to pick up the much-needed supplies when you didn't or couldn't drive the 30 miles all the way into town.

For some, it was just the place to grab a quick bite to eat and a bit of good conversation. Any way you remember the general stores of days gone by, they were everything to everyone and had everything for everyone. They are not lost and forgotten; here are a few places that are still up, running and thriving.

M. Crow and Company - Lostine, Oregon

Owner Tyler Hayes, who is currently an artist and creator in Pennsylvania, purchased the M. Crow and Company store to prevent an iconic memory from his childhood from closing. His great grandparents, along with the Crow family, were among the first to settle in Lostine area. The Crows opened the store and ran it for 107 years.

Hayes has always grown up creating. and so now he makes everything he can, and sells what he doesn't need in the store. They carry dresses to garlic powder and everything in between. They are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 p.m. - 4 p.m.

The Brick Store - Bath, New Hampshire

The Brick Store claims to be the "oldest continuously operated general store in the United States" and has been in operation since the 1790s. Old hand-painted signage is still visible in the store and the display counters are slanted slightly for those women in their hoop skirts back in the day so they could see the merchandise.

They have an ice cream shop, an art gallery and carry handcrafted smoked sausage and cheeses plus fudge as well. They also have an online store so when you get home and you want more of that home smoked cheddar cheese you can get it. They are open Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Floyd Country Store - Floyd, Virginia

Originally opened as Farmer's Supply in 1910, The Floyd County Store has been open in this location ever since. Until the late 1990s the store was operated as a true hardware and general store. After a full renovation of the store in 2007, the café and retail store were reenergized, and although the store carries it share of touristy items, you can still buy "a good pair of bib overalls, a jar of local apple butter or a good old-fashioned dish cloth."

Always a meeting spot in the town of Floyd, the store keeps the tradition of gathering with friends and neighbors alive through its Friday night blue grass jamborees. Originally started back in the early 80s, the jam goes on each Friday night from 6:30 p.m. till 10:30 p.m. and is not to be missed.

Mast General Store - Valle Crucis, North Carolina

Originally built in 1883, the first couple of rooms of the store were opened by Henry Taylor as the Taylor General Store. In 1897 Taylor sold half his stake in the store to W.W. Mast and they operated as the Taylor and Mast General Store. In 1913, Mast bought Taylor out and ran the store in the family carrying everything from, "plow points to cloth and cradles to caskets."

Their slogan still being used today is, "if you can't buy it here, you don't need it." The store has been home to a variety of services over the years. They were one of Standard Oil's longest retailers, home to one of the first doctors in Valle Crucis, as well as an exchange for wildcrafters' products.

John and Faye Cooper purchased the store in 1980 after a two year closure and preservation effort and has since run the store as a place where you can get everything you need. The store has done so well under the coopers that they now have locations in Asheville, Boone, Columbia, Greenville, Hendersonville, Knoxville, and Waynesville. But if you really where it all started, you have to go to Valle Crucis.

General Stores were so named for they carried a general line of merchandise. It seems like nowadays in addition they now carry a link to the past and a memories of days gone by. And those are both free of charge to anyone willing to make the trip.

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