This Old General Store In Virginia Has A Fascinating History
General stores are old-fashioned in the best sense of the term. They represent the highlight of small town charm, offering an assortment of local goods, familiar faces, and nostalgia. Virginia has plenty of general stores, some of which have been around for over 100 years. One of the oldest of its kind is tucked away in southwestern Virginia and has a fascinating history that revolves around folk music, boot stomping, and lots of entertainment. Here’s more on the Floyd Country Store and why you’ll want to visit.
The Floyd Country Store is more than a fine southern general store; it’s a true Appalachian experience. In 1910, a business under the name of Farmer’s Supply opened and this store has remained in business ever since.
The store has undergone a series of owners, although its spirit remains the same. For over 100 years, people of the Floyd community have counted on this spot for various goods and hardware supplies. Of course, it was difficult for this small local business to stay afloat, but luckily a new sort of draw was added into the mix: the Friday Night Jamboree.
In 2007, the Crooked Road was established to signify Virginia’s music trail. The Floyd Country store was quite literally put on this map for its celebration of both music and dance. Live music had been a regular occurrence here for decades, starting in the 80s when the business owners would practice with their local bluegrass band on Friday nights.
This small gathering started attracting plenty of people from the community either to listen or stomp their feet along to this lively music. Other musicians came to collaborate and perform and it wasn’t too long before the Friday Night Jamboree really took off.
Nowadays you can check the schedule (floydcountrystore.com) to see which bands are coming through town. It isn't unusual for live shows to be accompanied by dances, two-step, and even folks congregating outside when the weather calls for it.
So what else might you find at this Blue Ridge Mountain general store? A little bit of everything. From the barrels of candy to ice cream, hardware, presents, holiday gifts, musical instruments, and more, browsing the store’s items is definitely an experience all to itself.
In addition to its strong musical identity, the notion of a tradition general store is certainly not lost on this place. Through and through, the Floyd Country Store is a place where folks from near and far can meet to exchange their tales, and maybe even a little town gossip. If you’d like to join in on the fun of these jamborees, make sure to stop by the establishment on Friday evenings between 6:30 and 10:30.
Have you visited this unique general store in Virginia? If so, be sure to share your experience there with us!
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