Do you remember when General Stores were the “thing”? I remember. I remember one my mom used to go to all the time. She was friends with the owners and every day after school (I believe I was in second grade) she would take me there and I would get a bag of chips and a drink. While she chatted with the owners, I would go outside and play with another child. Usually one I knew from school or my cousin when her mom would come to the store too. These places are a part of a lot of our childhoods and we are seeing them rapidly disappear. It’s such a shame. I love the atmosphere that a general store can give you that a convenience store can’t and never will. Here are 15 photographs of general stores that are still in business or shells of what they used to be. They’re charming nonetheless and will make you wish for that time once again.

1.

Bruce Jones/Flickr The sign above the store says that it’s an antique store, but I can bet you that this was a general store at one time. This particular store is found in Clover. No more information is known.

2.

Matt/Flickr

David Arsenault Photography/Flickr The Store has been around since 1904 and is now used as an antique shop. It’s definitely a place to visit if you have a chance to go to Bluffton.

3.

geraldbrazell/Flickr This is showcasing the goodies that are in Mast General Store in downtown Columbia.

4.

Kevin Trotman/Flickr JR Harley General Merchandise store in Eureka.

Kevin Trotman This is a close-up of the old Exxon gas pump in front of the general store. Remember when the gas was leaded?

5.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr This store actually looks like it might be still open to the public. It looks in good repair, but there’s really no information regarding it except that it can be found in Edgemoor.

6.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr This is the old Monticello General Store found in Monticello. It also used to be a post office. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

BEV Norton/Flickr This is not as old as they can be, but you can’t find them in use in stores anymore. This is a cash register and a scale.

7.

Jason A G/Flickr Mast General Store in Greenville that has been open since 1883.

8.

graywolfx47/Flickr Cashville Mercantile in the Upstate of South Carolina.

9.

Robert S. Donovan/Flickr This is Rankin’s Grocery in Anderson. I absolutely love the colors that seem to have held up pretty well over the years. I really miss places like this.

10.

carlfbagge/Flickr Look at that workmanship. They don’t make things like they used to. Buildings of long ago seem to stand forever. I can almost bet you that whoever ran this store lived in the top half of it. You will find this store in Smyly.

11.

graywolfx47/Flickr This old shop can be found in Williamston.

12.

graywolfx47/Flickr This shop is still open so if you are in Piedmont, please go visit them! It certainly makes me happy to see old places like these still thriving.

13.

anoldent/FLickr You may know this place as LoneStar BBQ down in Santee, but before it was called that there were 4 different general stores that were bought and put together. What’s better than repurposing something that would have just disappeared and getting some of the best Lowcountry BBQ on top of that?!?

14.

carlfbagge/Flickr Buddy’s Stop and Shop is in Ruffin. At one time, not too long ago, it was open, but as of right now it isn’t. Hopefully, someone will open it again.

15.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr This store was completed in 1887. You can find this store in Fork.

Do you have any pictures of general stores in South Carolina? Do you know any more information about the ones above? If so, please share it with us below! I would love to hear about it and I’m sure that all the other readers would like to know as well. Since they’re general stores, it’s difficult to find information about them especially if they don’t have names or are in very small towns.

Bruce Jones/Flickr

The sign above the store says that it’s an antique store, but I can bet you that this was a general store at one time. This particular store is found in Clover. No more information is known.

Matt/Flickr

David Arsenault Photography/Flickr

The Store has been around since 1904 and is now used as an antique shop. It’s definitely a place to visit if you have a chance to go to Bluffton.

geraldbrazell/Flickr

This is showcasing the goodies that are in Mast General Store in downtown Columbia.

Kevin Trotman/Flickr

JR Harley General Merchandise store in Eureka.

Kevin Trotman

This is a close-up of the old Exxon gas pump in front of the general store. Remember when the gas was leaded?

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

This store actually looks like it might be still open to the public. It looks in good repair, but there’s really no information regarding it except that it can be found in Edgemoor.

This is the old Monticello General Store found in Monticello. It also used to be a post office. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

BEV Norton/Flickr

This is not as old as they can be, but you can’t find them in use in stores anymore. This is a cash register and a scale.

Jason A G/Flickr

Mast General Store in Greenville that has been open since 1883.

graywolfx47/Flickr

Cashville Mercantile in the Upstate of South Carolina.

Robert S. Donovan/Flickr

This is Rankin’s Grocery in Anderson. I absolutely love the colors that seem to have held up pretty well over the years. I really miss places like this.

carlfbagge/Flickr

Look at that workmanship. They don’t make things like they used to. Buildings of long ago seem to stand forever. I can almost bet you that whoever ran this store lived in the top half of it. You will find this store in Smyly.

This old shop can be found in Williamston.

This shop is still open so if you are in Piedmont, please go visit them! It certainly makes me happy to see old places like these still thriving.

anoldent/FLickr

You may know this place as LoneStar BBQ down in Santee, but before it was called that there were 4 different general stores that were bought and put together. What’s better than repurposing something that would have just disappeared and getting some of the best Lowcountry BBQ on top of that?!?

Buddy’s Stop and Shop is in Ruffin. At one time, not too long ago, it was open, but as of right now it isn’t. Hopefully, someone will open it again.

This store was completed in 1887. You can find this store in Fork.

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