SERVICE was terrible. The young lady at counter was irritated at us asking her to make a Mocha and serve a cookie to customer. She had a attitude look on her face and walked like she was angry. Better fire and hire new employees. Dark haired young lady working April 23rd at 2:00 PM !!! read more

Rustic...not rusted or rusty. A throwback general goods boutique that maintains the traditional appearance of a historic time period minus the corny role play of old timey character employees. It's a cute little shop that was recently reopened after some renovations. Previous customers should appreciate the fresh, open layout of the store. The appropriate theme fits well at beautiful Old Town San Diego. I'm more of a basket case and Wifey likes gifty stuff. I lean towards snacky items. There could be some "hidden gem" finds to fill a holiday gift package, a welcome basket for your valued client, a picnic basket for any occasion, or some treats to keep you going on your day of sightseeing, Rust is worth checking out. Jonathon and Toni are the friendly proprietors that will help you find that something. I am a fan of their cordial flavors and I want to try them all. The salted caramel chews are pretty amazing too. I don't consider myself having a huge sweet tooth, but I might become a sugar addict if I snacked on their wonderful candy on the reg. The next time your caravan is making the trek up north through treacherous Oregon Trail or hitching up the wagons for an eastbound journey to the foreign lands of the Las Vegas outpost, consider gathering provisions at Rust. Their stockpile of goods will satisfy you on your travels (get me candy), and modern technology will keep you from getting dysentery. read more

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A very fun stop. The pickle is amazing to start. The manager was very fun to talk with and he had a lot of information and was very eager to share. Even gave samples as we filled up our basket with unique spices and goodies. Old Town is looked down upon by a lot of locals, but it has gotten so much better with a great emphasis on history. This store being one of the best stops you can make. Treats for all. Spices for cooks. Teas for chilling. A sweet little place to support a local business. read more

I would have never thought a place called Rust General Store, in Old Town, would have a full menu. I always thought Old Town only had Mexican restaurants so it was refreshing to see a menu filled with sandwiches, salads, bratwursts, cookies, and ice cold drinks. I was intrigued by many of their sandwich names such as Mary Taggert, Juan Bandini, and Madam Fisher. I mean I seriously thought Rust General Store sold general stuff like iron and copper that, like, you know, rust. It's a smaller store but my goodness was there a lot to be seen: teas, candy, hot sauces, cordials. They even sample stuff (there were lemonade and candied jalapeno samples that day). You place your order with the sandwich cashier and they bring your item out to you. We ordered: ICED COFFEE $3.00 I believe they brew their own iced coffee in house. The coffee tasted nice with less acidity than a Starbucks ice coffee. THE BAVARIAN $8.50 I can't remember if the pretzel bun was toasted but it's a pretty looking bun ain't it (see pic). This is a large bratwurst and friend was happy that the brat was longer than the pretzel bun. He thought the meaty bratwurst paired well with the sauerkraut. I'm just now noticing there's caramelized onions on this dog too. MADAM FISHER $9.50 Oh man this was a panini grilled nicely. I enjoy paninis that have that extra heave-ho-smush to em. I was a bit disappointed that the filling seemed a bit sparse for the $9.50 pricetag. BUT, the hot sandwich tasted wonderfully fresh and crispy. The balsamic reduction tasted nicely sweet yet tart. It was a nice compliment to the creamy mozzarella and dark heirloom tomatoes. My item came with chocolate covered raisins. It was a nice little complimentary dessert after a sandwich and ice coffee. I wandered back in the store as I wanted to take one last look at their hot sauces. I saw this sausage menu on the door that we didn't notice before. Sausage on a stick sounds totally low carb cool. Plus I think I heard the grill guide scream 'Pickles on a Stick' when we were eating (to passerby-ers, not to like me or friend's faces which would be so odd yet funny if he had). Rust General Store impressed me with their menu, cute little store, and friendliness of the staff. Everyone that day just seemed to be in a great mood (perhaps because the humidity had lifted for a brief moment). This store is absolutely worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

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Cute general store that really makes you feel like you're a part of Old Town San Diego. No AC, so you really get the feel. I just ordered a tea, the Point Loma. Prickly pear tea with a splash of lemonade! Almost like an Arnold Palmer, very refreshing. Friendly staff and good prices. There is a $0.35 charge if you use a credit card! read more

Rust General Store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

My search for the ultimate local toasted cheese sandwich ends here. Rust's version is a large, hefty cut of chewy bread loaded with several kinds of delicious white and yellow cheeses. Best of all, their sandwich press infuses extra queso into the bread itself, resulting in a delightful crunch on the outside before you reach the soft cheesy interior. Served with a small side of tomato compote and a tiny sasparilla treat for dessert, this is the perfect chilly day grab and go option when you're cruising around Old Town. There are many other sandwich, snack, drink and candy options at this cute period piece venue, so this is a good place for folks who want something on the go or just different than the many nearby sit down Mexican joints. If you do want to take a load off, there is a relaxing, shaded back patio where you can enjoy your food while taking a respite from the OT tourist bustle. read more

We stopped here because my daughter wanted a pickle. I told her it would be on a stick. She laughed because she thought it was funny. They had good selection of sandwiches and chips. Also different types of sodas to choose from. read more

Rust General Store - Pickle on a stick - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm gonna lead with a thank you. Thank you Yelp community, thank you San Diego and thank you Rust for letting me be a part of something great! If you're in the area and you don't take home a sandwich, shame on you. Don't ever talk to me again! I had like 5 different kids of sandwiches. They were all amazing, but I'll come back to that later. You walk into the General Store and they have the whole American Old West type thing going on inside and outside. There's a wall of licorice jars and old school candy and baked goods. There's cool beverages and all kinds of nick nacks and doo dads. But I was here for the golden grail baby! I was here for hot pressed sandwiches. My son did the Mary Fisher something or other. It had had baconish, mozzarellaish, tomatoish with baslamicish type vibe. Outstanding flavors and the bread tasted fresh and awesome. I had the James McCoy and it is well worth discussing! The like a pretzel type bun perfectly warmed up with corned beef, aged cheddar (fancy talk for "extra stank") and like real cooked and slides potatoes right there! Like roasted right in the sandwich! There's a brown mustard on the side, a delicious pickle and serious toothpicks holding it all together. Dude, this was an epic sandwich. I chased the dragon and I found it! Just to add the last bit, there's was a mini sandwich trio with olive tapenade both green and black and a salami with cheese mini. All three little baby bites could easily pass for really good to great sandwiches, but you put the whole picture together and you get a special type experience. Go to San Diego and go eat there. Look at the photo evidence of you don't believe me! read more

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Went into the rust store today 10/1 at approximately 3:00pm and we wanted to order some lemonade. The 2 employees assisting the right side of the store were debating on who would help me out. When the male clerk came over he said "hey" and hot on his on cell phone. We were standing there for a about 5 minutes as the clerk ignored us. My husband, myself and my 2 boys stood there just staring at him. We left. Not coming back again. Quite surreal and funny to an extent, because this clerk clearly did not care. We found a coffee shop down the street instead :) read more

I randomly found myself here after being gifted a gift certificate to this place. I'm so used to frequenting the Mexican restaurants that line the main road through Old Town that I never noticed this small general store. There was parking in a nearby lot that made getting here fairly convenient. I ordered a hot turkey sandwich and took some time to peruse the store. I always love that the stores in old town are filled with such interesting and unique items. This one was no different. After browsing, I grabbed my sandwich and took it to go. I really enjoyed it! It was a well made sandwich. I don't think I'd go out of my way to come back for one but definitely think this is a great option for when I'm in the area. read more

I love this place. I get a ham and cheese pressed sandwich. Simple right? So why is it SO FREAKING GOOD??! I've made ham and cheese my whole life and have had my fair share of them in various locations. So....what is in this sandwich? Crack? Yuuuummmmm. Come check it out. Get 20% off on yelp. Buy a sandwich a prickle pear lemonade. Eat it their backyard. read more

Pop in and ask for Chris; he's exceptionally knowledgeable about candy, tea, and which floorboards to step on for the most satisfying squeak. 10/10 would come back again--my new favorite shop in Old town. read more

Took 20 minutes to bring out 2 sandwiches and chili cheese chips. When our food arrived the chili was cold and they had used cheese slices over the chips which was not ever melted. Get the hometown hero sandwich and had no taste at all. read more

Great products, but the staff has zero personality. You will never be greeted upon entering and they avoid eye contact with you so they don't have to help you. Go elsewhere for your tea. read more

Yum... Homemade peppermint bark... Stopped in with some of the homies for their Customer Appreciation event. Jonathan and Toni are amazing with customers and are very personable in every interaction. They even dress the part, which I thought is really cool. Lots of novelty items, and my fave is all the yummy chocolate displays behind the counter. Ask for a sample! Beers were flowing and snacks were available for us in the outdoor patio. Eventually they'll have a restaurant area and I'm really excited about that. Located in the heart of Old Town, it's a great little pit stop to pick up some sweet treats and homemade goodies. Stop in and say "hey" and tell them that Maria C. sent ya... read more

Here is a little brief description: RUST General Store is an 1860s inspired general store located within Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The products are meant to reflect the history and culture of people living in and the places trading with San Diego during the American and Transitional time periods. From 1846-1872 I heard about this place through a friend (Jack M.) Thank you, Jack M.! I had to try the Mrs. Robinson's Grilled Cheese. Signature RUST Style Grilled Cheese. It also came with a delicious Tomato Chutney. and the delicious Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookie. The grilled cheese had a nice cheese that was melted all the way through. The bread had a nice crisp texture and had a really nice Parmesan crusted exterior. I loved the Tomato Chutney so much that I used mine on every single bite I took of my grilled cheese. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sell this stuff. It's really really good. It's the best Chutney I have ever had. The chutney was sweet and didn't have any acidity taste to it which I thought was better than something acidity. The Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie. I certainly could taste the chocolate chips in there. So decadent and rich and I love the crispy exterior and a crunchy interior which is why I could taste the chocolate chips so well. The girl that took our order was really nice and sweet. She explained a little bit about this place like how the grilled cheese tastes. The quality of it and what to expect when you're eating it and.... she said it takes about 7-8 minutes to make. They have seating out in the front or back and directed us where to go because we wanted to eat outside in the back and stay in the shade. They sell a bunch of stuff in the shop and on our way out my mom wanted to buy some licorice and was offered a sample of one and the girl nailed it right the first time and that's the one my mom bought. See you soon! read more

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Omg. sea salt caramel soft pretzels...?? Where have these been all my life?? Such a good sweet/savory combo, I will be making more frequent stops to pick some up! Lets combine that with an ever varying inventory and you've got a pretty slick shop. Where else can you find Chinese pork jerky and Italian Salami in the same store? Where else can you find real vanilla beans, Tahitian, Madagascar, ... ?? The cooking enthusiast will find a great friend in RUST. Just about any spice you could need for cooking anything, you can find. As well as about any random old thing you used to have as a kid. Top notch! read more

We had gone to Rust General Store a few years ago, but we didn't partake in the delicious food they offer. We had purchased some of their unique salt infusions. Our favorite ones were the Expresso Salt (sadly they don't carry it any longer) and the Chipotle Salt. These 2 salts are wonderful sprinkled as a finisher on BROWNIES!! Outstanding!! So I was out and we went back today to purchase more. They only had the Chipotle Salt. However I did discover their Vanilla Salt and Bloody Mary Salt...Looking forward to experimenting with these! Thinking the Vanilla Salt might be tasty on ice cream!! Today though we were hungry and we are doing a Keto-ish diet, and to our delight, they have Sausage on a stick! Yummy and satisfying. We will be back!! read more

I have been to this store a few times on my many trips to San Diego, just because I like to browse through almost anything and everything. I think the store has a charm to it, as it seems to give you the idea that you have entered into another time period. The employees are dressed in such time period (sorry, but unable to give a specific year for it). There are jars of candies you can purchase, candles, spices, jelly/ jam jars, soaps and lotions and so forth. You can also purchase Bavarian sausage and these gigantic bread pretzels. I never got a chance to purchase either. When I first walked into this store, no one greeted me. The employee behind the counter knew I entered the store but didn't greet me. No one was working at the counter where you can order food and a few customers were just standing in line there waiting for someone to take their order. When a customer told that employee behind the counter about that, he just said that someone should be there and just went back to putting stamps (of their store name w/ black ink) on blank paper bags. This store could be so much more, but with expensive prices and lack of customer service, I don't see myself every purchasing anything. I will most likely come back just to look because it is just something else to do in Old Town, but won't buy anything. read more

I was lucky enough to go to a soiree at this even. I have been a few other times to browse and purchase some nifty goods from this store. The grilled brats were phenomenal. I have never had sauerkraut and am glad I actually tasted it there. It was bacony goodness! I also bought some candy, and jelly which the kids enjoyed. The selection of root beer is forever growing which makes me happy as we tend to stroll old town for a root beer and great conversation. I love to pop in and check out what is new. I heard a rumor that they were going to start offering picnic baskets! I can't wait I'll have to go with the family or just the boyfriend to have a relaxing day in old town. Keep up the awesome work guys you have made me a happy customer! read more

This well-stocked general store is straight out of the Old West, circa mid 1800's. It's the type of place that tourists easily overlook, and locals visit frequently. The cafe is so small, you have to look around to find it inside the store. Of course, all the assorted goodies on the general store's shelves provide a major distraction. The food is . . . what? Bavarian? Yep, quite different from the usual Old Town fare, to say the least. But the food is interesting, original, and above all, good. The star of the menu is sausage, which is cooked on an outdoor grill. The grillmeister frequently shouts about his labors to unsuspecting passers-by just like a carny barker, and this guy has lungs ! You know this, because the um, 'rustic' dining tables are located outside, right near the grill, and its uber-vocal meister. I had the Pio Pico ($10), a good-sized thick-skinned sausage in a pretzel bun smothered with wild boar and bean chili (yum!), cheese, and a sour cream drizzle. My wife had the namesake Richard Rust pork and beef sausage, ($8.50) in a pretzel bun covered with caramelized onion, ample sauerkraut, and red chili mustard. Both were delicious, and mine was delightfully messy. I have never before seen such a broad selection of soft drinks offered. Wow. I know there are strict State Park regulations regarding the modification of the leaseholds, but the tables are barely satisfactory, and the chairs not very comfortable. Sort of the definition of 'rustic', right? The main problem is that the dining area is located on uneven, hardpacked dirt. The tables tip, the chairs rock. This condition ought to be addressed if the business is to grow, but the State may balk at any changes. Advice: Stress customer safety, the State might buy into that. There was a minor hiccup in the service, and my wife got her meal about 5 minutes before mine came out. The friendly and period-costumed ladies gave me a fresh brownie cookie to compensate for the delay. A nice touch, and a great dessert. Yeah, we will be returning, and we will watch the hoards of tourists walk by with nary a glance at this little general store, a diamond in the rough. read more

What a cool store! The young man working the counter was so helpful and offered samples of candy to my kids so they could excise what they wanted. Helped us with our tea selection (I'm enjoying some as I write this review). It felt like a blast from the past being there. Wish we lived closer because it would definitely be where we shopped for teas and coffees regularly. Awesome place with amazing service. Can't wait to visit old town again so we can stop in. read more

I officially love this place. It's supposed to be a kitschy tourist trap but it transcends it. You come in and it's cramped and tiny but very cool, all the shelves filled with food I want to buy. The staff are in pretty pioneer costumes and are very sweet. We sat in the rustic outdoor area in the back (I don't know why people sat our front when the back area is so much nicer) and had our order served to us there. They had a fall theme going on and it went perfectly with how they served their food. I'm a food stylist and had a blast taking pictures because I didn't have to do anything to make the food look perfect. As far as the food goes, presentation wise, 5 stars. Taste, probably 4 but only because I like my food really flavorful and the flavors here are quieter--which it shouldn't be considering we ordered the wild boar chili and the corned beef pressed sandwich. The James McCoy corned beef sandwich was delicious though, don't get me wrong. Use the mustard because it adds to the flavor. The pretzel bun is really good, hot and crisp! The sandwich is served with slices of roasted potatoes in it, pretty different and quite good. (I would have liked more corned beef though.) The wold boar chili would have been perfect with several dashes of hot sauce and some salt and pepper. We were outside so it was impossible to wave to anyone to ask and by the time someone checked on us, it was mostly finished already so never mind. Again, the chili was perfectly fine, really thick and full of beans and meat, just needed a kick of flavor. The bread it comes with is crisp and still good even when cold. Both dishes come with a small cup of three chocolate balls. Yum! The drinks we had were pretty interesting too! Prickly pear lemonade (hot pink!) and the dandelion and burdock Fentimans that tasted like a liquid bazooka Joe bubble gum. Fun! read more

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Tried this cute touristy shop a few weeks ago to get some grilled cheese sandwiches- and boy were they good! The sandwiches came with a side of tomato chutney and chocolate malt balls. I almost always follow a savory treat with something sweet and this place did that automatically. Loved the service and the ambience. Try eating outside in their patio-it's rustic chic. Oh and order one of their fancy lemonades- they can customize it to your preferences :) read more

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Adorable old time store. This is a quaint small store that is a throwback to the good ole days of "The General Store" When you stop in here, you will find goods lined on the shelves in glass jars. The staff is dressed in old fashioned gear and are super friendly. This store is small so beware if your rollin in with a baby stroller. It gets a lil cramped at that point. Food samples were available for some of their goods. read more

RUST General Store is a wonderful store in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The proprietors continue to consistently expand and refine their product lines, so if you are looking for a great place to discover new favorites, this is the place for you. They also host private events, and when it was time to throw my best friend a wedding shower, I knew exactly where to go. The owners gave me a wonderful deal; only $650 rental fee for tables, chairs, linens, plates and flatware and $25 per person for a wonderful, delicious, and very filling high-quality buffet. The staff went above and beyond to make my event a success. They made myself and my guests feel like invited friends in an intimate backyard garden party--a part of their community. I arrived half an hour early to help set up--only to find that the staff had already set everything up and done a beautiful job. The food was served in a very pleasing manner, and it was SO. GOOD. The buffet Included meat & cheese platters, fruit, vegetable crudité, fresh bread with olive tapenade, beverage bar (ice-tea, lemonade, & infused water) and cookies. The buffet was kept refreshed throughout the event without intrusion; the owners of RUST are wonderful hosts. I cannot recommend RUST General Store highly enough--either to stop in for lunch or for your next event. You cannot go wrong here. read more

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A trip to Old Town isn't complete without a visit to Rust General Store! The very friendly staff dressed in their 1860s inspired outfits add fun and charm. My husband and I love perusing this shop of all its goodies... from soaps made by a SD local, to preserves, hot sauces, specialty seasonings, to all sorts of fine chocolate and teas, and more. My favorite part of the store is the wall lined with shelves of licorice, cordials, and other delightful treats. My husband's favorite part? The Bavarian sausages on a pretzel roll, of course! Oh, don't forget to meet adorable Archie, the shop boxer! read more

Rust General Store - Nice outdoor seating area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Everyone else is right! This spot is excellent! Jam! Candy! Spices! Friendly folks in period garb! And delicious sausage lunch and other food! Its the hat and mustaches that I love. So sorry for the modern shoppers who don't have access to a cool fun yummy spot like this! read more

Rust General Store - Happy with delicious Bundaberg brewed ginger beer and root beer! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

So this place is super cute and cozy with lots of cool unique sweets to buy. I ordered the Aldolfo Savin (3 cheese) sandwich with a side of tomato soup along with a Rancho Bernardo (Prickly Pear and Mango Soda). The sandwich came with a tomato chutney and three small chocolates which I thought was a super cute touch to the presentation. The food itself was yummy except I was a little disappointed in the portion. I am usually unable to finish my meal when I go out but I was able to easily devour this down and was hungry again in an hour =\ I traded my Rancho Bernardo for my friend's Calhoun Street (prickly pear lemonade) and found myself enjoying the sweet, familiar taste of the lemonade opposed to a unique taste of the Rancho Bernardo. It almost tasted like a rose soda if you've ever tried that. There is spacious, outdoor seating but can become chilly and limited indoor seating. Plenty of parking which is great for being in Old Town. The atmosphere and service is exceptional EXCEPT when I ordered a to-go sandwich for my husband, they did not include the chocolates or the tomato chutney which I felt was kind of cheap of them to do. Not sure if it was intentional or a simple mistake but it definitely took away from the positive experience I had because I was really excited for him to try the chocolates. read more

Rust General Store - Adolfo Savin - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such great service and food. They have a really cute rustic outdoor patio where I enjoyed my Ham & Cheddar hot pressed sammich. 20% off when you check in on yelp! You order at the counter and they bring your food to you. The young woman working came back to check on me even though I was sitting so far away, in the corner outside lol. Would definitely come back!! My stomach is actually growling right now in real life lol read more

So many things to see inside this rustic store. If you are a lover of tea, this will be heaven for you... there are a lot of various teas to try and create combinations if you like. Lots of treats and retail items to consider as well. Small bites only, not much for food but a cute store to venture into. read more

If you plan on using a card to purchase an item, be aware that Rust will charge you a dollar for you to use it. The average is .35 cents which means the owner is making a profit off of the customer using a credit or debit card. He has no good name as far I'm concern. read more

Very calm outdoor seating and tasty drink. Mango Lemonade was delicious! Will more than likely return when in town. read more

Rust General Store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Good service, decent food. I even tried the pickled quail's egg and it was interesting! For San Diego, the prices are fine too (i.e., not cheap but not too outrageous). read more

Surprisingly good for a little general store with a kitchen. I had a turkey and Brie sandwich on a baguette with basil pesto on the side. My wife had a roast beef and manchego sandwich. Dad had a smoked bratwurst sandwich and Mom had the caprese sandwich. Each one was under $10 (a steal in California) and they were all delicious and good quality. And to think we almost stopped for street tacos today. This was a little hidden gem in Old San Diego. read more

This was one of the highlights of our day in Old Town San Diego. It is a replica of the typical general store from the 1800's complete with workers dressed in era accurate clothes. The smell of licorice hits you as soon as you walk into the store. There are several flavors of licorice and candies available. We ended up buying several of the cordials and Jessica tried the pickled carrots (she said it is was good, but spicy). I also settled on some cherry candies which were like gum drops. There is a minimum of one scoop, but everyone enjoyed their candies, so I don't feel any of it was wasted. The other daughter tried the fresh brownie they had on the counter, along with some cookies. Just like the general stores of old, this one has a little bit of everything. Sarsaparilla, Bavarian Pretzel Sticks (50% off with check-in), Ice cream and Preserves. There were also some modern items from JR Watkins, including lotions and gels. The woman working behind the counter was friendly and helpful. It was extra difficult for her because she was short and a few of the candies we wanted were on the upper shelves. The prices might be a little high, but the place is definitely worth the stop if you are in the Old Town district! read more

If you're ever in Old Town and want to try some novelty items and snacks, then I suggest coming here. You'll be amazed of the amount of goodies that they have here. I've had the opportunity to sample some of these items at a recent event here. I must say that the baked pretzels are my favorite, especially if you top it off with their patented spicy mustard. I think I ate four of them. Delicious! Johnathan and Toni are the owners of this store and they are both good, kind-hearted down to earth people. If you have any questions about the items in the store, all you have to do is ask them and they will assist you immediately. Come here and try their chocolate and candy. It will bring the inner kid out of you. read more

Really cute store that simulates those old-time general stores of yesteryear. You can find all sorts of old-style candies and toys, and there is a small drink counter where you can order coffees and other beverages. read more

Ice here solely for a hot sauce I had been on the hunt for and they had it! The ladies working here were nice. Will be back for more!

http://barrellymadeit.com Cool oak stools and tables for sale made by a San Diego artist using only the components that make up a wine barrel. The furniture is made from 100% recycled wine & beer barrels. Good hot chocolate, baked goods & specialty foods available. Friendly young couple owner/operators. read more