5 Old-Timey General Stores In Idaho

Idaho was one of the last states to be admitted to the U.S., and yet its towns still date back more than a century. In fact, destinations like Tracy’s General Store are still serving the public in much the same way they did a century ago. Alongside their historic past, many of these stores serve up delicious food as well, such as Hutton's General Store. With that in mind, if you are traveling in Idaho, do not overlook these five old-timey spots.

Tracy General Store (Almo)

Tracy General Store has a history dating back to 1894. This store was first established by the Eames brothers as a way of supplying those settling on the frontier. Tracy still operates as the state's longest continuously operating general store and has elements of its long past on display, including the original cash register that was actually in use until 2003.

Tracy still operates much as it always has, keeping locals fed. The store serves up homemade cookies and ice cream, as well as freshly cooked hamburgers. The store is also something of a community pulse point since the post office is run from the store, making it a frequent place of business.

Thomas Mercantile (Swan Lake)

Near the shores of beautiful Swan Lake is Thomas Mercantile, a 1910 store first built by the Thomas family. The mercantile would go on to sell everything from exotic perfumes to tobacco and even operated a soda fountain. Yet all good things come to an end, and the store closed in 2017, marking over a hundred years of service to the community.

However, the store was relaunched in 2023, this time with an expanded inventory and a focus on preserving those elements that make this place unique. The café is open for residents who want to dine on anything from omelets to pulled pork sandwiches. A community market featuring local vendors is held once a month, and the store is also a destination for live music, parties, and book signings.

Roseberry General Store (Donnelly/Roseberry)

The Roseberry General Store was first constructed in 1905, when the surrounding town was the largest in Valley County. At the time, Roseberry was a thriving community of Finnish immigrants, though the town’s fortune turned after the construction of the railroad in 1914. Soon, the town began to shrink, and the Roseberry General Store was forced to close in 1939.

It was in 1969 that the building was purchased and restored to its appearance as it stood in the 1920s. Today, it remains part of the larger “Historic Roseberry,” a townsite with multiple historic buildings. The general store sits alongside other restored buildings, such as the 1910 Valley County Museum and the 1904 Methodist-Episcopal Church. Visitors to the area can come see this historic destination and do a little shopping inside the general store for souvenirs to take home.

Hutton’s General Store (Harrison)

Among the loveliest general stores you can visit is Hutton’s, which sits overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene. The background of the store can be traced to the 1930s, when it opened as a local shopping destination for residents heading out onto the lake. It still operates in much the same way as it always has, with residents stopping by for supplies before spending time on the water.

The store also sells locally sourced jams, snacks, jellies, and other goodies. You can also get dinner while you are there and enjoy pizza or deli sandwiches. There aren’t many better dinnertime views than the ones you can enjoy at Hutton’s while looking out at Coeur d’Alene.

Franklin Co-operative Mercantile (Franklin)

It was all the way back in 1869 that the Franklin Co-operative opened its doors. It has an enviable place in Idaho history as the first store to operate within its borders. At the time of its opening, it was part of Zion’s Co-operative Mercantile Institution, founded by Mormon leader Brigham Young and considered America’s first department store.

Though the store closed in 1880, it was purchased in 1923. The building was slowly converted into an informal museum by Ellio Butterworth, a collector from the region who stocked it with relics he had gathered over the years. Today, it is owned by the Idaho State Historical Society and considered the best-preserved commercial building from the state’s founding years. Visitors will find displays of Mormon culture inside.

The stores that popped up across Idaho in its early days have survived into the modern era and make for incredible destinations to visit. Whether you want to have dinner overlooking Coeur d’Alene at Hutton’s or learn more about the state’s history at destinations like Franklin’s orThomas Mercantile, there are no shortages of places to visit. The next time you are in Idaho, stop in at these five old-timey stores.