Nostalgia: "A sentimental yearning to return to an earlier time remembered as happier or more pleasant, or a former place evoking happy memories; a longing to experience again a former happy time."
I've lived in North Carolina for over forty years. I've traveled all over the state enjoying many wonderful places from our breathtaking mountain ranges like Blowing Rock, Linville Caverns, Tweetsie Railroad, various gem mines, the Biltmore House, and so much more across the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains--to the ocean shores with Kitty Hawk, Cape Look Out, Nags Head, the Jockey's Ridge State Park (which has the tallest living sand dune on the Atlantic coast,) Ocracoke, famous lighthouses, etc. The list goes on and on, BUT until recently, I'd never even heard of the quiet community of about thirty Amish families living near Hamptonville. Nor had I heard of this hidden gem: The Shiloh General Store!
One of my dearest friends suggested the trip when she realized that I had never been. Out in the beautiful countryside, just after (or before, depending on which way you travel) the local fire department, an Amish Furniture store, and an Amish dairy store filled with vat pasteurized and non-homogenized products better than I've ever tasted before (products, also, kindly sold at Shiloh General Store,) Shiloh General Store sits Invitingly with it's covered porch and ample gravel parking lot (which seems to remain full all the time.)
The super friendly staff are ready and waiting to assist. Products, both local and from other Amish communities, are stocked neatly on the vast shelves: Dehydrated goods, canned goods, fresh goods, and frozen. There is something for everyone. (I am in LOVE with the loose leaf tea they have with little bits of dehydrated fruit in the blend.) While absent are the bins of candies for children to collect into bags, there are plastic weighed-out containers for the choosing and a small section of toys for the kiddos. The store is very clean, fresh, and new--not like Ike Godsey's Store on the Waltons, but it still has the feel of days gone by.
The highlights of the store are the deli and bakery. The prices are far less than any grocery store chain! The meat and cheese choices are ample. (Have you ever tried Amish Butter cheese? Yum yum!) The house baked goods are absolutely divine! (You have to go early to get the fresh baked jalapeño cheddar bread--so DO because it's epic! Or on Saturdays, be waiting on the front porch for the door to open if you'd like to grab a bag of warm fresh made donuts!) For under five dollars, one can order a deli sandwich and grab an included bag of chips from a selection of choices.
Just adjacent to the deli counter, there is an island counter with napkins, plastic ware, etc--at the end of it, closest to the deli, is a cup of pens and a box of order forms. You can Pick your bread--white or wheat freshly baked homemade, pick your meat choice or salad mix choice (pimento cheese, chicken salad, tuna salad) or pulled pork, choose your cheese choice, pick condiments which includes horseradish as an option, dill pickle slices, relish, lettuce, tomato, onions. Sensational!
When we went there the first time (yes, I've been back since--had to go again and will, now, frequently take new people who have never been before,) we were hungry; we ordered our sandwich first, grabbed our chips and paid. We went onto the porch and found a couple chairs (which are interestingly made from long lasting composite wood,) and we thoroughly enjoyed our sandwiches. Surprisingly, even though it was a 95° day, it was still cool on the porch with a nice breeze blowing. After lunch, we went back inside to shop!
One thing that surprised me, my only disappointment, is that not all products sold are whole food items. What I mean is, you still have to read the labels. I was shocked to find hydrogenated oils, preservatives, food dyes, folic acid (enriched garbage) and other no-no's IMO in multiple packaged food products both shelved and frozen. BUT the store uses electricity, has a wonderful air conditioner warding off the summer heat, has clean restrooms with modern conveniences, and they take a credit or debit card (and have furniture made out of composite wood from the Amish furniture place up the road,) so I guess that's just the way things are in our age. For me, this didn't make the experience any less than 5 STARS.
I definitely recommend you make Shiloh General Store a regular stop. (I mentioned the dairy: I will make the 50 minute trip from my city just to buy the half and half for our coffee and to buy more yogurt! It's that good! And while I'm there, even though I'm not choosing carbs like bread the rest of my days, I will have to have a deli sandwich!!! read more