Historic General Stores in Texas

There are few things that feel more authentically Texas than stopping at a little general store and picking up some preserved something-or-other to take back with you (and maybe some jerky for the road). That's why we've put together a list of some of our favorite old time general stores for your next trip along the country roads and through the town squares of Texas. After all, you never know when you may find yourself in need of some stamps or sewing notions.

Pictured: The owner, Steve Hartz, behind the counter of Oldtime String Shop

Credit: Steve Hartz

"If we ain't got it, you don't need it!"

Sewing notions and fabric. Barrels of pickles and potatoes. Nails and nuts in bins, and beans and grains, too. Soaps and spices. Small farm tools and medicines. Coffee and tobacco. And, of course, penny candy.

Yes, you can really find anything at a general store. It's why Girouard's, one of the stores on our list, goes by the motto, "If we ain't got it, then you don't need it." And yet, the word "general," while accurate, doesn't quite capture the everyday magic of these quaint, small town spaces.

Origins

It was during the period that spanned from 1820 to 1860, when income was rising and the population was growing, that many general stores began sprouting up at crossroads and on the outskirts of new settlements. In those years, the growing population across the state created a demand for more and diverse goods. This in turn attracted traveling peddlers, and if the peddlers accrued enough money, they'd open a general store or trading post. Though it was often the case that a general store was one of the first businesses in a new town, it wasn't uncommon for a general store to come before the town!

But more than just a site for goods and services, these spaces have played a consistent and essential role in our growing society, offering jobs, food, necessities, and often, a third space away from home and work where people could drink, dance, learn, or socialize. Indeed, general stores and other mercantile spaces like it were foundational to the practice of democratic thinking in small town society. Commonly serving as the post office as well, these general stores were usually the town's only link to the outside world, so naturally, news that arrived from far away places prompted opinionated conversations between neighbors and strangers alike.

Yes, our humble little general stores loom large in Texas history and were once the anchors of society and civilization. Little did these shop owners know they were building the history, culture, and authentic identity of their community.