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Nothing pokes our nostalgia button quite like a visit to an old-timey general store. And we are happy that Upstate New York has a couple of dozen great ones. From useful dry goods and household items to one-of-a-kind gift items, delicious home-cooked breakfasts and pastries, these classic general stores (some well over a century old) conjure warm memories for all ages. Here are 11 fantastic general stores, from a beloved hardware shop in Old Forge to a Hudson Valley store with a seal of approval from Martha Stewart. We know there are many others, so if your favorite didn’t get a mention here, let us know at feedback@nyup.com. Catskill Mountain Country Store For more than a quarter century, this little store has been right in the middle of the action in Windham, a quaint and lovely ski village in the Catskills. The store carries hundreds of different items and is popular for its food line. Toys, games, country art, New York state maple products, gift baskets, candles, candy, outdoor items, chocolate and fudge, bath and body items and a lot more await you here at one of the region’s top general stores. And try their strawberry-blueberry-pecan pie. Check out the neat little Happy Sappy Maple Museum in the rear. Adorable. Address: 5510 Route 23, Windham (Greene County) Old Forge Hardware Sure, it calls itself a “hardware store,” but this store is about as general as any general store can be in Upstate New York. We rented a cabin on the lake last summer and took the family shopping here. A camper’s best friend. You can buy anything you forgot in this store, from a new raincoat (they carry big and tall sizes!), books and maps, batteries, a jar of pickled beets, campfire wood, canned and jar foods, a black bear wind chime, a bag of nails and a hammer, and everything else. Founded in 1900. Love this place! Address: 104 Fulton St., Old Forge (Herkimer County) Masonville General Store The tiny crossroads of Masonville has really only one business storefront, and this is it. A cute, old-fashioned store with a lot of thought put behind it. Great food and shelf products. The Catskills store’s cheese is terrific. Stay and sit for a while. Sure, it is off the beaten path, but visitors from Binghamton and Oneonta (50 and 25 miles away) have been known to drive down and enjoy this little time capsule. Check their website for hours. Address: Routes 8 & 206, Masonville (Delaware County) Copake General Store Old general store in the middle of the village of Copake. The building has been a mainstay here since the 1850s. It seems to have been everything at one time (including a Methodist Church), and today it is a popular old-time general store. They serve sandwiches, homemade baked goods, salads, drinks, coffee and breakfast goodies and dry goods. Address: 171 Route 7A, Copake (Columbia County) Hoss’s Country Corner An absolute “must stop” if you are within a canoe paddle’s distance of Long Lake. This store, open for more than 40 years, is packed with Adirondack items, crafts, food and more. Great selection of regional book titles, dozens of woolly blankets to keep your toes warm on a chilly ADK night, plus almost everything you need to supply your camp for a visit to the High Peaks. And you can even get your fishing license here! Address: 1142 Main St., Long Lake (Hamilton County) Vidler’s 5 & 10 Maybe the greatest general store of them all. Not really a country store, not really a department store, just a unique store all by itself. Whatever you call it, this Western New York shop is the largest of its kind in the world. You can get anything from a sewing needle to a shirt to wear (and a thousand other items) at Vidler’s. And who is that gigantic man on the roof? That is ol’ Ed Vidler himself, the founder, or as they refer to him, the “Vidler on the Roof.” Address: 676-694 Main St., East Aurora (Erie County) Adirondack General Store Located on the eastern shore of Schroon Lake — one of the Adirondacks’ most beautiful lakes — this venerable store first opened its doors in 1855. They have everything you would expect in an Adirondack general store: Fishing tackle, beer, wooden Adirondack chairs, locally carved bear lawn ornaments, propane tanks, water toys for the kids, ice, boat rentals and more. This store is open seasonally, so make sure to stop in between May and October during prime camping season. Address: 899 E. Shore Drive, Adirondack (Warren County) Hillsdale General Store This general store and its surrounding buildings look as if they came off a 1950s or 1960s calendar. A wonderful little general store with all kinds of goods. In addition, this place is known for its food and its cooking classes. Recommended by none other than Martha Stewart! The store’s motto is “useful and beautiful things for country life.” Now a popular destination on its own, it is located just minutes from the Massachusetts state border. Address: 2642 Route 23, Hillsdale (Columbia County) Hague Market The oldest general store in the Adirondacks. Located on the western shore of the very northern end of Lake George. General groceries and dry goods, household staples, gift items, delicious coffee and breakfasts, sandwiches, ice cream and more. Address: 9844 Graphite Mountain Road, Hague (Warren County) Olde Country Store and More In the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Remember when these old general stores stocked up on penny candies? Well, the Olde Country Store and More doesn’t disappoint, with more than 300 candies that you will definitely remember. And do you like homemade taffy? More than 50 flavors on hand in this 1870s general store. Nostalgia overload here! Address: 2 University Ave., North Cohocton (Steuben County) Marilla Country Store Classic general store. In fact, there is even a little museum in the building that showcases the history of the store plus displays some antique store fixtures and inventory. First opened in 1851. They carry a lot of things, but locals like it as a place to get a wide range of bulk candy. Address: 1673 Two Rod Road, Marilla (Erie County)
