We were on vacation in the area and it was raining; a perfect time to visit the Mast General Store!…read more We slowly walked through the entire store, picked out a handful of our favorite candies and a cold bottle of pop. We sat on the front sidewalk and watched the clouds roll by. I noticed a section of the wall at the front entrance that showed the water lines at different times in history (see picture). That is the kind of history that only an old building has seen. The people that work here are glorious! Very helpful! They made our visit that much more memorable. This is a must visit location for all ages when you are visiting the area! Most Sincerely, Dayla

The Original Mast General Store is located in Valle Crucis, NC. It was opened by Henry Taylor back…read morein 1883 as the Taylor General Store and has been operating ever since, so they are definitely doing something right! The landmark is on the National Register of Historic Places and is quite a popular place. While you won't be able to park right out front as they did in the past, there is plenty of parking located conveniently behind the store. W.W. Mast bought a half stake of the business in 1897, then bought the other half in 1913, changing the name to Mast General Store It was truly the Amazon of its day, offering everything you could possibly need with the motto, "goods for the living, coffins and caskets for the dead," which prompted the local phrase, "If you can't buy it here, you don't need it ." When the economy changed and the original store closed in 1977, it was thankfully saved and reopened in 1980 by preservationists John and Faye Cooper The front corner of the store features an active town post office The store spans two levels with beautifully creaking floorboards that instantly let you know you are in a nostalgic place filled with history. A lot of the original advertising posters from Mr. Mast are still mounted on the walls alongside the vintage counters and fixtures The original cast iron potbellied wood stove is still used to heat the store, the functional wooden trap doors in the floorboards still remain from where chickens historically were traded for store credit, and you can even get a cup of coffee for just 5 cents. You will find a massive variety of cast-iron cookware, old-fashioned candy in barrels, postcards, books, high-quality clothing, footwear, toys, and traditional mercantile goods. I even bought a delicious fried apple pie! The historic Little Red Schoolhouse sits right behind the main building and offers clearance merchandise, though I just enjoyed looking at the older architecture and reading about the school.

This place has lots of personality to be so high up and away from other people and businesses. The…read moreday I visited they had a Blue Grass band and a fair amount of tourists stopping in. If you're brave and healthy enough, get a ticket to walk the stairs of the lookout tower. It's an experience you won't regret!

Cutest little country store I've ever been in! great prices and the nicest older man working.read more

great antique store with thousands of sometimes unique items. the store owner and help are pleasant…read moreto deal with. prices are generally affordable and reasonable.

This antiques place is in Trade, NC - part of the Pisgah National Forest. There are roughly 6 car…read morespots up front and the lazy guy at the front desk did not even make an effort to say 'hello!'. This is a large indoor collection of old tools, signs, duplicate magazines, fudge, furniture and carpets. Locked items are in small glass vitrines, which do not allow you to even look at anything. No greeting. No A/C. There was 1 couple browsing in the whole shop! Rebel review: 4 star overpriced, but big

I bought a tomato pie today from here and it was AMAZING! The crust was the best crust I've ever…read moretasted. Flaky and melted like and tasted like butter! Filled with tomatoes and cheese. I will be back to try all the things.

This is the best bakery I have been to yet, the pastries, bread, and wraps were made perfectly. The…read moredrinks and meats they sold in the fridge were high quality as well. The prices were great for what amazing food they were offering. Never mind the amazing customer service. They have an awesome selection of home made merchandise, I would tell anyone near by to please come by here and show support. They said they do square dancing every other Friday night! I will be coming by here anytime I am near Boone, I wish I could give them more than 5 stars.

It's my go to for framing. She does great work and has a nice eclectic stock of other items.read more

I just love shopping here. They have the most unique things here. I have found wonderful items…read morefor my home and gifts for others. It is just a very charming place to shop with owners that are deliteful. I can find anything I am looking for or in need of here.

I cannot say enough good things about the Mercantile. Adorable addition to state street! Huge…read morevariety of adorable gifts, clothing, and house decor. That Cookie Dough & Sweets Bar is located in the Mercantile and OMG! It is a must if you like sweets! They have cookie dough and gelato mainly among other things. I got a milkshake which was half cookie dough and half gelato. Delicious!! Super friendly staff as well!! Can't wait to go back.

From the owner: Mercantile On State is a Gift Shop, Boutique, Dessert Shop & Novelties Store located in Bristol, TN…read moreand has been servicing all of Bristol and the surrounding areas for many years. We offer Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry, Cookie Dough, Unique Gifts, Art Gifts & much more. Here at Mercantile On State, our mission is to always provide quality Gifts at an affordable price. The success of our Store is due to the dedication we provide to our customers. Customer satisfaction is always our number one priority. Contact us or check out our website for more information.

Cute gift store with an array of gifts for the season. Great place to find unique gifts for people…read morefor the holidays or birthdays. There is a decent amount of jewelry, kitchen items, holiday decor, and clothes (upstairs). The coffee shop downstairs is also a nice touch to the store-I recommend stopping in there first and drinking your coffee as you shop. There was plenty of parking and it was easy to locate. It's unique and separate from the rest of historic downtown West Jefferson which makes it an easy recommendation to anyone looking for gifts.

The Vintage Farmhouse General Store is a great option for anyone visiting West Jefferson who is…read morelooking for an alternative to parking & exploring the larger downtown area nearby. This place is a little ways away from most of "the action", has plentiful on-site parking, and combines coffee shop + bakery + general store in one location. The store is relatively new to West Jefferson and opened within the last few years. It's family owned and operated, and the staff members who were working on the day of my visit could not have been lovelier. The only reason I'm not giving this place five stars is because I felt like the selection of merchandise in the general store was not as eclectic as most general stores I've visited. The majority of the merchandise either fell into what felt like a "live, laugh, love" version of a feminine / children's esthetic, or was downstairs in a section literally called "the man cave". With so many amazing local merchants and artists throughout the West Jefferson community, it would have been nice to see a few more options that fell between these two groups and were maybe a bit more neutral. While I very much enjoyed exploring the store and looking through everything, when it came time to actually purchase something for myself or to use as a gift, I really couldn't settle on anything that would be a good fit.

I have been to Fred's several times. This last visit was disappointing. The staff could stand to be…read morea little more helpful and welcoming.

If I could give this place a zero star rating, I would have. We stopped in while up there playing…read moremini golf because I wanted to help the local economy, and get a gift for my friend. The guy at the cash register was noticeably rude. He must've thought we were tourists --ha! Joke's on him! -- because he appeared to dislike visitors. Anyhow, get anything you need BEFORE you go up to Beech Mountain. This business does not deserve any money coming in. They have a reputation of being horrible -- look through the reviews. AND it's not just that horrible man at the desk today. WOW... Bless it!

Before driving to experience Greenhouse Crafts, beware that the times posted on their website are…read morenot accurate. My daughter, grandson and I drove from Linville to Greenhouse Crafts Shop only to be told it was closed Sunday at 1:00 instead of the 3:30 we read on the internet. There was another couple who expressed the same disappointment and also had driven miles to the Shop. We decided it is best to call before starting to drive to make sure the Shop is open.

Our granddaughter says Greenhouse Crafts is her favorite store when she comes to visit, and I…read moreagree. Owned and run by the multi-talented Joanie (the artist) and Michael (the musician) Bell, Greenhouse is filled with unique, beautiful, and fun gifts. There's also a great selection of cards and jams and jellies. Open every day from mid-April through Christmas Eve, Greenhouse is a wonderful shop. If you're lucky, you might hear Michael playing the dulcimer.

Had such high hopes for this place. I went in looking for a patterned and colorful lamp shade. But…read morethe lamp shades she carries are plain and overpriced (starting at $200) and apart from a few cute and also overpriced finials, there wasn't anything unique or interesting in the shop. Big let down.

From the owner: Shady Business is Southwest Virginia's premier source for custom designed lamps, chandeliers,…read morehigh-quality lamp shades, boutique gifts and gorgeous home decor. We carry exquisite silk, linen, and parchment shades, and a large collection of fine finials to help you find the perfect finishes for your lamp. High quality silk, linen, parchment lampshades Original design lamps Exquisite finials for lamps Porcelain night lights, battery operated wax candles Fine gifts and home fragrances Decorative items for the home Specialty jewelry and sleepwear