Is New York Home to America’s Original General Store?

As exciting and trendsetting New York can be we also have some of the oldest places in America within our borders. That is one of the greatest things about New York, the embracing of history while setting the tone as we rocket into the future.

Claiming we have one of the oldest places in America is a bold claim and, occasionally, a statement such as that is met with a challenge. For example, it is said New York is home to the Oldest General Store in America. True or false? Let's take a look.

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Before we look at the oldest general store in America, did you know that Cooperstown, New York is home to the oldest covered bridge in the Nation? Or that the oldest street in the country can be found in New Paltz, NY?

Established in 1857, the St. James General Store in St. James, New York, is considered the oldest continuously operating general store in the United States of America. Watch the video below to see the original floors and counters. You will even see the mail slots from when the store acted as the town's post office.

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As far as challenges are concerned, the following general stores claim to have been around and operating longer:

• The Old Country Store - Moultonborough, New Hampshire - Their slogan is "Perhaps the oldest in the United States". Perhaps?
• Davoll's General Store - South Dartmouth, Massachusetts - "The Oldest General Store In America"
• The Brick - Bath, New Hampshire - Closed briefly in 2019