8 Old-Timey General Stores In The United States

General stores once stood out, supplying towns with everything from dry goods to mail services and more. Some have unfortunately faded away with the rise of modern retail chains, a few have survived, holding onto their original purpose and historic charm while also forming a new type of roadside attraction.

Let's take a look a some of the best of these old-timey shops all around the United States and the stories they continue to tell.

Wall Drug - Wall, South Dakota

Wall Drug began in 1931 as a small pharmacy in the town of Wall, just outside the renowned Badlands National Park.

Originally opened by Ted and Dorothy Hustead, the store gained national attention after they offered free ice water to travelers, a real treat during the sweltering summer heat this region often sees. Their hand-painted highway billboards, which still stretch across the Midwest, originally drew in motorists during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

Over time, Wall Drug expanded from just a regular drugstore handing out free water into a sprawling 76,000-square-foot roadside attraction. It includes a soda fountain, Western art gallery, chapel, bookstore, and various souvenir counters. Despite its size and abundant tourist traffic, the store still retains many elements of a traditional general store, such as practical goods and over-the-counter medications.

Old Sautee Store - Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia

Established all the way back in 1872, the Old Sautee Store has operated continuously in Georgia’s northeastern mountains for over 150 years. The front room is a real throwback to the old days, with its original wooden counters, vintage items, and traditional dry goods displays.

You are free to walk around this living museum, browsing shelves stocked with jams, old-fashioned candies, and other handcrafted goods. The store has also grown over the years, now featuring a deli and gift shop, selling regional specialties and Appalachian-made products.

While it is now more of a tourist attraction rather than a vital resource for the community, the Old Satee Store maintains its function as a working general store serving this sparsely populated corner of the state. Its longevity and surprisingly intact historical structure make it one of the most authentic examples of a post-Civil War general store still in operation in the United States.

Located at the junction of state routes near the town of Helen, it remains a regular stop for locals and travelers interested in regional history.

End of the Commons General Store - Mesopotamia, Ohio

Founded in 1840, the End of the Commons General Store is Ohio’s oldest continuously operating general store.

Located in Trumbull County’s Amish Country, it has served as a central hub for the community, providing goods and services ranging from groceries and hardware to postal services and even casket-making in its early years.

The store has since preserved its historical character, featuring endearing wooden floors, antiques, and a gorgeous white exterior with wooden columns and a two-level balcony. Today, it still offers a wide array of products, including thousands of bulk food items, Amish meats and cheeses, and over 150 varieties of old-fashioned soda! The Commons Cafe, located within the store, also serves freshly made meals.

Owned and operated by the Schaden family since 1982, the store remains both a useful store and a cool historic landmark for tourists.

Jefferson General Store - Jefferson, Texas

The Jefferson General Store operates out of a 19th-century brick building that once served as the town’s first hardware store. Located in the riverport town of Jefferson in East Texas, it is just one of many awesome businesses in this historic community.

Inside, original wood interior and vintage fixtures frame a collection of goods that includes locally sourced preserves, Texas-made salsas, retro toys, bulk candies, and much more. A working soda fountain inside serves floats, sundaes, and five-cent coffee, continuing a tradition that draws both regulars and visitors in search of a tasty treat.

Its setting, in one of Texas’s oldest towns, makes it all the more special. Jefferson General Store's position on dowtown's Polk Street means this landmark is within walking distance to other longstanding locales, like Riverport Barbecue, Auntie Skinner's Riverboat Club (another great restaurant), and for a touch of nature, the Big Cypress Bayou.

Randsburg General Store - Randsburg, California

Established in 1896 during the Rand District mineral rush, the Randsburg General Store has been a mainstay in this Mojave Desert mining town. Originally opened as the Randsburg Drug Store, it was rebuilt in 1904 after a fire and later featured a soda fountain installed that same year, a real advancement in culinary technology for its time.

Over the decades, the store transitioned from a pharmacy to more of a general store, serving miners, residents. and passersby with essential goods and refreshments. Notably, the same soda fountain it houses is still operational over a century later!

In 2022, due to economic challenges, the original store closed its doors. However, the legacy continues as the business relocated to another nearby historic building, sharing space with a restaurant called The Vault.

Randsburg is a gateway to Red Rock Canyon State Park.

Rabbit Hash General Store - Rabbit Hash, Kentucky

The Rabbit Hash General Store keeps in line with a trend throughout this article, standing as the oldest general store in the state, still operating today.

Situated along the Ohio River in Boone County, it has long been at the heart of the Rabbit Hash community. The store has withstood numerous challenges, including a devastating 1937 flood that even left mud in its attic crawl space, mud that is still there today! Moreover, in 2016, a fire nearly destroyed the building, but it was meticulously rebuilt using salvaged materials, and thankfully reopened in 2017.

This store continues to offer a variety of goods, including anything from candies and regional specialties to "potions and notions," as advertised on the old-school signage out front.

Nagley’s General Store - Talkeetna, Alaska

Founded in 1921 by Horace Nagley, Nagley’s General Store has been a cornerstone in the remote community of Talkeetna for over a century, and is one of the few general stores on this list still serving as the town's primary supplier of goods. Originally established to cater to local miners, trappers, and railroad workers, this store has evolved to become one of Alaska's most classic landmarks.

In 1947, due to concerns of flooding from the nearby Susitna River, the entire building was relocated three blocks to its current location, reportedly remaining open for business during the move. A fire in 1997 then caused significant damage, but the store was rebuilt and reopened in good time, taking only about 4 months.

The store also gained fame as the home of Stubbs, a cat who acted as the town's honorary mayor for nearly two decades.

Marilla Country Store - Marilla, New York

Open since 1851, the Marilla Country Store is yet another one of the United States' oldest continuously operating stores, and definitely the longest-standing country store in New York State. Located just outside Buffalo, it has kept open through significant historical events, including wars, pandemics, and drastic economic shifts.

Originally founded by Harrison T. Foster, Marilla Country Store has been under the stewardship of only three families, with the Gingerich family taking ownership in 1979 and later passing it to their daughter, Sandy Grunzweig, and her husband, Paul.

Marilla Country Store sells a range of products, including groceries, bulk foods, home décor, and seasonal gifts, while also hosting a museum showcasing artifacts from its long history.

See these Relics of the Past Today

From businesses looking like they've been taken straight out of the Wild West to charming candy shops in the woodlands of Upstate New York, these relics of the past continue to serve as gathering places, trading posts, and even museums. Their shelves may have shifted from stocking farming supplies to souvenirs, but their role as vital keepers of local history is unchanged. Visiting any of these spots is a reminder of the old school Americana that is unfortunately quickly disappearing in a world of over-commercialization.