Appalachia Shack Stores, Country Stores, and General Stores  

An old country boy from East Tennessee, I grew up with a store just like these as a focal point in our lives. It was a critical part of our survival, along with the Sears catalog.

This brings a tear to my eye. As a kid, I loved going to Turmire's Grocery with my father. I remember all the old men that hung outside who would always greet us with a smile. Sadly, our simple way of living is being stripped away from us. My town is turning into every other cookie cutter city across America with mega stores, fast food everywhere, and unfettered immigration which is destroying the cultural make-up of a region our families have called home for over two centuries.

The first store with all the signs is a place I use to go to as a kid with my uncle. This was Knight's Market and Feed Store up until the mid 80s or so. My uncle had a beef cattle farm about a mile down the road and we'd stop in the market on cold days when my uncle thought the cattle needed a little more than hay to keep them warm. I'd get a pop and a snack and my uncle would have a cup of coffee, then we'd load several bags of feed in the truck to take up to the farm. The market didn't have all those signs on it, the current owner is a collector and after he bought the market and the house next door, he decided to share his collection of signs with everyone. Every time I drive by the store I think of all the great times I had working with my uncle on the farm. Summers were full putting up hay and working in tobacco but winter was my favorite. I was back in school but I would still spend every weekend with my uncle and aunt, it was some of the best years of my youth. My uncle would ask if I wouldn't rather be at home playing with my friends and I told him I'd much rather be working with him on the farm.

As a city girl I never experienced these charmers. There is a country store I visited in Moultonboro New Hampshire though that is just like this. From the mid 1800s and still going. It used to be the Post Office for the area as well. It seems these general stores served many purposes for the community. Thanks for sharing!

God bless these markets they fed many good folk and put things on credit!!! Not done today.

Not in Appalachia, but my aunt and uncle owned a General Store in Vevay (southern Indiana). There were 2 old gas pumps from the early 30's, a big cooler full of pop, a huge Victorian key punch cash register, a meat counter in the back and a 4 seat soda fountain. I loved helping in the store when I was a kid. There was a large apartment upstairs filled with antiques. Last I heard, my cousin said she was sure it had been torn down. Thanks for bringing back some memories!

I’d sure like to step back in time a bit and walk into them stores and order me a royal crown cola, and drink it right there on the porch, with a bag of peanuts. Thank you.

Thank you for putting all these together in a video and the music is perfect for this. I use to live down the road from a little general store and would trade my pop bottles in for change to buy soda, candy, hoop cheese, etc. That place is gone now but not the memories. There is still an old general store open not far up the road though that has a nice little cafe in it and the typical old items, pot bellied stove in the back, candy, etc. Its called Leflers General Merchandise in the little PeeDee community, Montgomery Co., NC. They make there own pit cooked bar-b-cue there. There use to be a dozen places like this within 50 miles of me but they are almost all gone now. Such great memories from much better times.

Lots of cool old pictures!

What beautiful treasures!!!! Old country stores !!! My grandpa had one. What a memories!!

I grew up in many old stores like this sitting around a wood stove listening to the old timers tell bear hunting & fishing stories,Most of the old timers have went on &now I'm the old timer looking for a good place to spin yarns (that's where you almost tell the truth)Blount & Monroe Co,That's some fine picking you're doing too ! Thank you and God bless

I'm 50 and I have such fond memories of some of the old general stores that's long and forgotten

I remember as kids when we would visit my grandparents and cousins. Two of my cousins lived across the road and my sister and I would go up to their house and the first place we went was to the old country store down the road. I can still hear the sounds of the old creeky steps and floors in the place and the squeaky screen door that lead into the store. Always had a couple of old timers sitting on the porch as you went in. Sure do miss those days!

What beautiful set of pictures, sad for the one that was on fire... ty for sharing

When I was about 12 years old {1962} I would load up my Grandpa's GMC truck with watermelons (Black Diamonds and Charlston Greys) and off we would go to these old stores. I remember nothing but great times riding around with my Grandpa selling melons. Thank You so much for this video

I love this tribute. The music is so peaceful.

It's a shame these old country stores are gone forever. How I remember the squeaky floors, the smell of burning firewood. I'm very fortunate to know what these were like. I used to look for empty RC, Pepsi, Upper 10 and Nehi Grape bottles. The store owners would pay 5ḉ per bottle. I'd spend the money on BB's and oatmeal cookies.☹

When I was a Trucker in the '70's running Coal down in Kentucky these stores were essential to me, and, the communities they served, not only as stores but social gatherings, I am always happy to see one ANYWHERE!!

I grew up listening to my dads stories of him and his brothers riding their horses to the Valentines general store down the road from their farm to get groceries and candy.

I LOVED GOING IN COUNTRY STORES YOU FELT SO WELCOME !

Love going in the old stores...they have unique personalities. Thanks 👍👍❤

I used to cash in bottles for a cold one at Rockwoods store in Alburnett, Iowa, when I was a kid.Bucky Rockwood, the owner , was really nice to us kids.he passed away a few years ago and I got to have a tour of his place. I remember as a kid I always wondered what it would be like to go behind the counter where Bucky stood to ring up sales, so I went and stood at his cash register.on the floor where he always stood, there was a spot worn into the wooden floor about half an inch deep from Bucky standing there all those years ringing up purchases. I wish I could go back to those times and gat a cold pop and visit him again.

We had General Store down the road from me in SW Virginia. My friends and I would walk the ditches for pop bottles to cash in. I remember the farmers crowded around the pot bellied stove sitting on wooden pop bottle crates telling stories and ribbing each other. I learned more history about my area and the people in it than any school book could have taught. As many commenters have said, I miss that time. It was simpler and we didn't have as much as now but I think we appreciated it more, and the world seemed to make sense.

The opening violin makes me so happy I almost weep I love it so much , it brings back so many memories ,can’t say more thnx JD

I had forgotten about the flour sack dresses until I saw the bags of flour.

My favorite part of traveling is the little obscure towns and shops I end up going to along the way

Not from Appalachia, but still a country boy. Growing up in the 80s, one of my earliest childhood memories is going to my grandparents house. They lived way out in the country and down the road from a country store just like this. I remember riding on a 3 wheeler with my uncle (before 3 wheelers were outlawed) down to the store and buying soda in glass bottles. Kids today have no idea what kind of freedom we had, no video games!

Still some of these places in my area. I always do my shopping there if I can. Good people, great stories, and I just like to try and spend my little bit of money with my own people.

I remember old stores like this around Tennessee when I was young. The old looking, “even for then” bread advertisement screen front doors. The smells inside.

In my early teens I became an orphan. I lived in a small (then) southern Arkansas town named Mena. An older father of 12 and his mom took me in and I then lived in Cove, Ark. I had a boyfriend in Vandervort, Ark and when I would visit his home I would often jump on his horse and go riding up to the small general store there. There were always old timers sitting out front playing checkers and swapping stories. The old building smelled of antiquity. Fond memories now that I am 68.

I remember these as a child I miss them how we gather n talk to each other. Even when we became teenagers we still wanted to go, young folks don't realize what they are missing today. I give anything to ride in grandpa truck an take one those hills a little faster so my stomach would feel funny n we would laugh. Silly memories but great memories for this now great-grandma. ♥️😇♥️

You bet I'll subscribe. All of my folks came from Appalachia. They came from a little town called, Atkins, Va. My Mom and Pop had to leave and go north to find work in the 1930s, but we went back to visit now and then. My uncles used to make moonshine in those mountains back in the 1920s. Also, my dad was the youngest, so his job was to watch for government men at the bottom of the mountain and then raise the alert. Seeing these old places remind me so much of that time. I'm old now myself, 77, and live in the Philippines, but I truly miss the old places. Thanks so much for your videos.

I remember some of the old stores and I have photos of Pruitt’s General Store where my grandmother worked for years. Good memories, thanks for sharing and have a blessed night!

Sure brings back memories I loved going to one from the time I could walk with my dad

Do you have any idea how many of these type stores I've been in during my life? OMG.... from Winona, Mississippi throughout the entire southeast, including the Appalachians, all the way to Alaska. Between the photos and the music, yours AND "Sunnyside', it brought tears to my eyes. Beautifully crafted work, as always! Thank you! I had to get a fresh mug of coffee and watch again! 💖 The nostalgia is bittersweet.

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Hey brother Appalachian I see so many memories in these pics thank you I appreciate it so much

Was happy to see the Stores from McMinn, Co. All of a sudden it was 1957 and I was chewin on a frozen Mars Bar on a warm summer day, Mom yelling at me to stay on the porch.

Awsome video

The Paintsville, Kentucky store "Webb's Grocery" is actually in neighboring Van Lear. The store serves as the gateway to Loretta Lynn's birthplace and childhood home in Butcher Holler which is just up the road a piece from the store. The store is owned and operated by Loretta's family ("Webb" was her maiden name). Thanks!

I WATCHED THIS VIDEO AGAIN ! LOVE IT !!!!!

I try to imagine life around these stores at the time? I wish I could have experience it? thanks for the great photos of these precious stores🥰

These little family owned store had the best food. Crown bolgna Rc Cola an a moon pie. Miss those days

Brings back great memories. Thanks for sharing

Small town Texas has a lot of these. Super fun to browse through them.

I can remember when every community here in Stokes County had a country store and some had more than one. One of these is Priddy's General Store which is featured in this video and is still in business today.

I remember a few of the old country stores back in the early 1960 we would pass by on the school bus

AMAZING! This made my heart tingle. ❤

Just beautiful, God bless

What a wonderful video. I very much enjoyed it. I am glad to see, by some of the comments, that stores like the ones, in your video, still exist.

When I was younger there were several Mom and Pops back home in Virginia. All are gone now as the folks who ran them passed on. I miss them

Charming, thank you!

Another outstanding production! Thank you!

such a home town feeling love it thank you!! 😊

Very cool

Wow! Great memories! Thank you so much!

Man,I remember those old general stores in the late 60s to mid 70s between Noctor,ky.,Stanton, ky,Pine Ridge,ky..What a great time to be growing up. Thank God for great memories 🙏

Shoutout Stokesville Market and Supply, Mount Solon, VA. I stop here frequently on my way to my hunting spots in the mountains. Last season was especially cold opening weekend of deer firearms season, so I actually drove from our camp, down off the mountain after dark to try to find some hand warmers. The store had none in stock, but the lady’s son was out back working and she went and got his attention. He gave me a whole ten pack out of his truck, and refused payment. Just asked that I come back and show him the deer on my way out. I was fortunate enough to shoot one and stopped by on my way home. Love these spots.

I miss those times and the people.

I grew up in a little larger town in western Minnesota. We had a wonderful neighborhood store that was only a few blocks away. That store was another place those dimes and nickels would go. Today the little square concrete building is a private residence. Great memories though ...

Cool pic. When I was young you would find a country store every 5 to 10 miles People had to be able to walk to the store . Today people would not think about walking 5 miles to the store . People use to be made of better stock .

My dad and uncle had a store like many of these in St Mary's Kentucky they ran it for 30 years. Have a lot of good memories from that time and miss them and the old store

This was really good, There were a couple of stores there in Briceville that are probably not around anymore. One was Idles grocery, and another was Evans grocery, I dont remember the one that was across from the school, but I remember going to all three of them when I was young. your video brought back childhood memories. Thank you

When I was a kid in the early 60's, we would go to visit my aunt and uncle in the sticks of North Carolina. They ran a country store with two gas pumps.Phillips 66 . The store had old wood smell. The wood floors were so worn down that they used old license plates nailed down to cover the holes. The plates were worn down too. When we were ready to make the trip back home ,my uncle would give us a Coca-Cola and a paper bag for us pick out penny candy. Mary Janes, Squirrel Nut Zippers,Necco wafers,Tootsie Rolls,Fireballs. My aunt and uncle are long gone but the old store still stands or rather leans.They closed it in the 80's Gone but not forgotten.

great video of a great people country

Got to love this video. Thank you.

Thank you Fer a good video...brangs back memories

I remember that in Delta Colorado we had one by the railroad I used to go to everyday after school for licorice whips. Then we had one on main street called Ocean to Ocean my grandma worked at. They had everything from Seed to Pots and Pans.💞

I grew up in the holler behind the one you used for the thumbnail! Bug Mans General Store. Lakeshore Rd Bean Station Tennessee! Awesome

Butler Tennessee Appalachian Mountains where I was raised Red Irish Rose have never been that happy since then!

This was so enjoyable, thank you.

Thanks for this

So cool! There was a similar store near my grandparents' farm in GARFIELD TX. Called Albert Brown's Grocery. I remember it from the 50s.

Neat slideshow. Then I realized I've also photographed a few of these places. Then I realized I've shopped in a couple of these.

ah the memories of my childhood in TN

This really took me back in time. My greatpa and grandpa ran general stores from the 1920s until 1978. I would love to go back in time but that can’t happen on this side of eternity. But thanks so much because this video is the next best thing. God bless you all and thanks so much.

Love the days of these old stores. My husband and I had one of these " convience stores for 23 years. Couldn't compete after our town put in Walmart super centers. I'm happy now that we sold when we did with these gas prices.

I enjoyed seeing all the stores and locations! The Depot Bottom Country Store at 5.02 is located in McMinnville, Tennessee. They're still open!!! I usually get "The Griff" sandwich when I eat there.

As a youngster I practicality grew up in my grandparent's general store in Duffield, Scott Co. VA. Sold anything you might need. Traded groceries for ginseng root for poor folks. Granddaddy loved his neighbors, gave credit to many, he was owed thousands when he died. Store closed in1968 and was torn down. Thanks for the memories!

This was a beautiful vid to watch and I loved the music, it did something really good for me, missing Kentucky. Just subscribed and looking forward to seeing more.

Yep, worked in pop pop's store in the mid 50s, " DeMarco's Crossan Ave Mkt." in Chelsea Heights, NJ. A cute little blond walked in one day ( Bobby Snockey), and I fell in love with her in 5 minutes!! lol I was 14, and she was 12!!

thank You!

It was great seeing Hathcock's Grocery in Brent, Alabama. Our youngest son was named for Brent, AL, "the home of Alabama's most beautiful girls".

Love go into an old fashioned General Store. Recognized a few of them.

Now we can buy these up an reopen them!!!!

I love 🇺🇲 thank u for putting this together it's wonderful

Love your videos. I'm a teen again. I'm going to Mrs. Bradley's Store on Authur Street off of 5th Ave. Not far from Moses School. She ran credit for the neighborhood. Their was a store across from Moses School that was in-between 2 streets. I went to school with their daughter Wendy but can't remember the last name. These were both in Knoxville.Wendy & her family lived above store. Thanks for your videos.

My adopted Grandfather used to tell me stories about McGee's Store in Yuma, Va....he grew up down the road from it and hung out there in his younger days....used to always pass an old store in Boones Creek, TN that I think served as a train station, also another old store that had a sign that said "Loafer's Glory" hanging outside it....I never did figure out if that was a brand of bread or if it described all the old timers sitting on the porch outside chatting all day lol

Country stores are a rarity. When I was a kid in the 80s, there were two of them close by where I live in central Arkansas. They carried a little bit of everything and to the delight of a kid with a sweet tooth, candy that by the piece was a dime.

If you get the chance to go to Boone, NC, there is a store there, the Mast General Store, if I remember correctly it has been there a few generations...thank you for this video, it brought back lots of memories of going to visit relatives in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina.

Love it. Appalachia is a wonderful place

Thanks for the video. Just found u and subbed. I live in Comanche Texas but my mom's family is in Floyd County Kentucky, McDowell, High Hat, Harlan.

Thumbs ☝ my friend

We still have 1 old country store in operation, at Cades (West Tenn, between Milan & Bradford). Best bologna sandwich around!

Love this story! Thank you so much! This channel is addictive in a good way! Patricia Gambino Harrington

The Paintsville KY store brought me back some memories cuz that's where my dad is from

There was a little store in Buladeen,NC that hung half off he mountainside who’s name I can’t remember anymore being an old guy of 70. I loved stopping there when cruising through the twisty mtn roads in my youth,.

Really enjoyed this video. My Grandfather and Father owned a General Store store for many many years in Glencoe KY. Ironic this video appeared in RU-vid's algorithms suggestions for me, as my Mother just sent me a picture of myself she took of me in 2006 standing in front of that store, which was still standing at the time but boarded up.

That's cool. I could show you 3 or 4 more in central kentucky. They been closed for long time but they been there for more than 100 years

I can remember well going in old store with my dad when I was a boy the old wooden floors they where nothing like today