We’re visiting the birthplace of one of what many people would call their favorite store. Just like Ingles, this is a family business that goes back decades. But while Ingles got its start in 1963, The Mast General Store began in the 1850’s. And today we’re checking out the place that started it all.
Today you can find Mast General Stores in various historic locations across the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia. But the one that first got things going well over a century ago is here in the tiny map dot of Valle Crucis, North Carolina.
This building featured on the National Register of Historic Places is one of the best surviving (and thriving) examples of an old country store anywhere in the nation. The crooked walls and creaking floors tell a story of generations of mountain people who have flocked here for decades. And as the old timers used to say, “if you can’t buy it here… you don’t need it.”
That’s one of the most beloved things about Mast General Store. They have a little bit of everything. From clothing to candles, candy to camping gear. It’s a fun place to poke around and find all those things you never knew you always needed.
Another thing that’s great about this place is that it’s still connected to this mountain community. This is where you find the town’s post office, the potbelly stove where locals gather for a hot game of checkers, and get the best directions for a day exploring Watauga County.
Just up the road is what’s known as The Annex. It was the first expansion of the Mast General Store brand back in 1982. It’s survived a lot over the years, and today welcomes visitors with that same old-timey charm.
Charles Kurault once wrote that the Mast General Store was the place to go to know the soul of the south. And we think he might have been right. Community focused, welcoming to all, and remembering our past while looking to the future. That’s us at our best, and that’s what you feel when you’re here.
Whether it’s your first time setting foot in here, or you’re a repeat customer, the Mast General Store will always welcome you with a cozy country charm.
