The Modern-Day General Store

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

A general store may seem old-fashioned, but these timeless shops are making a comeback.

In recent years, many shops have opened as "general stores," from Labour and Wait in London to General Home Store in East Hampton. In Brooklyn, New York alone, there are several, including Moon River Chattel, Brook Farm General Store, Annie's Blue Ribbon and Brooklyn General Store.

These idealized versions of old time-y general stores are filled with classic, humble goods: Mason jars, linen aprons, industrial light fixtures. However, these shops are a far cry from the stores from which they draw their inspiration -- you won't find any hardware supplies or livestock feed here. Nor are they theme-park versions of general stores of the past. These shops offer a contemporary spin on the stores of old.

We love the rise of these "new" stores, but we were curious what was behind the trend. In an age when there are specialty stores for every imaginable niche and much larger "general" stores like Target and Walmart, what is the draw of a small shop billing itself as a general store? It's certainly not the convenience or the price, so what is it?


The website for Brook Farm General Store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn sums up the contents of its shop, and the new general store movement, well, "From the most humble scrub brush to the most luxurious linen sheets, all of our products are useful, simple and timeless." This idea of timeless pieces that will last for a long time may be increasingly appealing to consumers who are faced with trends and new technological devices that become obsolete within a few years time.

A well-edited selection may also be a part of the draw of the "new" general store, according to Sarah Londsale, an editor at Remodelista.com. "Having a limited selection of goods that you know have been carefully chosen is immensely appealing," says Londsale. "At a certain point, it is tiresome to have to choose between a huge selection of the same type of product. The general store is the antithesis of this with its edited selection of goods."

Designer and author, Tricia Foley, echoes Londsale's sentiment that the "new" general store trend may be indicative of the uniformity of the retail shopping scene. A general store entrepreneur herself, Foley says that people still ask her about her store, The Bellport General Store, a retro-styled shop, which was open from 1993-96. The continued interest prompted her to create a "pop-up," or temporary store, The New General Store, in the Hamptons this summer (and in her own backyard the year prior). These pop-up general stores have been such a success that Foley plans to begin selling her merchandise online this fall.

"I think that people love the idea of hand-selected merchandise, both classics and vintage goods, as a balance for the big-box stores," says Foley, of the trend. "I also think that going to a wonderful environment as a destination or ritual (like Saturday morning shopping) becomes important in these times."

In the end, the popularity of these new general stores may have more to do with the people and the experience than the things they sell. Londsale notes, "There's a sense of community about a small store where you get to know the owner. Just like a farmer's market, people enjoy the familiarity and sense of community that a small store offers."

 

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