General Stores of the Southeast
Explore 30+ that offer nostalgic finds and experiences
By Elizabeth Poland Shugg
General stores originally served as gathering places where colonial farmers could trade and sell seasonal produce, while other colonists shopped European imports and discussed the latest news. Store owners typically stocked coffees, teas, cheeses, produce, candies, clothing, guns, knives, and metal goods.
Here in the Southeast, we’re fortunate to have a number of these establishments still in operation. There are also many that no longer operate but linger as wistful reminders of our past.
General Stores Still Operating
GEORGIA
Dahlonega General Store
24 South Public Square, Dahlonega
dahlonegageneralstore.com
Huck’s General Store
500 E. Main Street, Suite 201, Blue Ridge
hucksgeneralstore.com
The Market on Church
(Formerly General Store 30474)
112 Church Street, Vidalia
themarketonchurch.com
Old Sautee Store
2317 GA 17, Sautee Nacoochee
sauteestore.com
Stripling’s General Store
Locations in Bogart, Brunswick, Cordele, Perry, and Tifton
striplings.com
SOUTH CAROLINA
Bluffton General Store
2 Church Street, Bluffton
blufftongeneralstore.com
Cooper’s Country Store
6945 U.S. Highway 521, Salters
facebook.com
Mast General Store
1601 Main Street, Columbia
mastgeneralstore.com/columbia
111 N. Main Street, Greenville
mastgeneralstore.com/greenville
Palmetto Dunes General Store
1 Trent Jones Lane, Hilton Head Island
palmettodunesgeneralstore.com
Pawley’s Island General Store
9674 Ocean Highway, Pawley’s Island
pawleysislandgeneralstore.com
NORTH CAROLINA
Bynum Front Porch*
(formerly Bynum General Store)
950 Bynum Road, Pittsboro
bynumfrontporch.org
*Bynum Front Porch is no longer a general store, but rather a nonprofit that hosts music and storytelling shows, community picnics, jam sessions, and workshops.
Fred’s General Mercantile
501 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain
fredsgeneral.com
Mast General Store* (the original)
3565 Highway 194 South, Sugar Grove
mastgeneralstore.com/original-store
*There are additional North Carolina locations in Asheville, Boone, Hendersonville, Sugar Grove/Valle Crucis, Waynesville, and Winston-Salem
Priddy’s General Store
2121 Sheppard Mill Road, Danbury
facebook.com/est.1888
Rockford General Store
5174 Rockford Road, Dobson
rockfordgeneralstore.com
Saxapahaw General Store
1735 Saxapahaw Bethlehem Church Road, Saxapahaw
saxgenstore.com
Union Grove General Store
1932 W. Memorial Highway, Union Grove
uniongrovegeneralstore.com
Washburn’s General Store
2426 Bostic Sunshine Highway, Bostic
washburnstore.com
TENNESSEE
Mast General Store
402 S. Gay Street, Knoxville
mastgeneralstore.com/knoxville
Muddy Pond General Store
3608 Muddy Pond Road, Monterey
(No website)
Ogle Brothers General Store
1640 Parkway, Sevierville
oglebrothersgeneralstore.com
The Old Mill and General Store
160 Old Mill Avenue, Pigeon Forge
old-mill.com/the-old-mill-general-store
Piedmont General Store
1256 W. Dumplin Valley Road, Dandridge
facebook.com/piedmontstore
VIRGINIA
The Bluemont Store
33715 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont
bluemontstore.com
Clifton General Store
7140 Main Street, Clifton
themainstreetpub.net/cliftongeneralstore
Kite’s Store
4258 U.S. Highway 340 South, Shenandoah
facebook.com/therealkitesstore
Mast General Store
401 S. Jefferson Street, Roanoke
mastgeneralstore.com/roanoke
Natural Bridge General Store and Natty B Cafe
593 Wert Faulkner Highway, Natural Bridge
facebook.com/naturalbridgegeneralstore
General Store Photo Gallery
These photos capture the nostalgia of the stores, and stories, of yesteryear.
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