st. james general store

every christmas, my world includes a tradition where my son and I spend at least a couple of hours shopping for gifts in our neighborhoods country store. sadly that very store closed down this year. wondering where we could go to carry on our tradition, I luckily remembered the st. james general store. I knew that it was an old store but I didn't know it is the oldest operating general store in the united states. and it's right here on long island, though I did remember that part!
the original owners name was ebenezer smith and he built his store in 1857. it soon became the central meeting place for the surrounding community where the very first telephone was installed in their village.
out of everything in the store, I liked the old wooden floors & ceiling the best. it's the kind of detail that lends the store its charm. my son thought the best part was their old fashioned coke bottles they kept cold and ready for paying customers. it looks like we'll be heading back that way next year. we both agreed it was definitely worth the ride.
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& a big thank you to klaus, sandy, ivar, wren, fishing guy & louise for hosting this meme!