9 Old-Timey General Stores In California

Reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit that shaped California, these nine old-timey general stores offer more than just everyday essentials; they’re gateways to the state’s rich history, vibrant culture, and small-town communities. From rustic bakeries and live music venues to curated boutiques and museum-like displays frozen in time, these living landmarks tell stories of resilience, tradition, and innovation. Come along on a surprising and nostalgic journey to explore nine of the Golden State’s most remarkable general stores, each with its unique history and character.

Stewarts Point Store, Stewarts Point

Stewarts Point Store is located in the tiny hamlet of Stewarts Point, a remote coastal area on Highway 1 in Sonoma County. It was established by Hubert Archer (H.A.) Richardson, in 1868, traveled across the country with his family from New Hampshire to what was then the thriving community of Stewarts Point. Today, the store remains in the Richardson family, having been passed down through the generations. Lots of family memorabilia hang from the rafters, including an ancient baby carriage, old farm tools, gigantic abalone shells, and old photos, such as one of H.A. sitting in a horseless carriage.

The Stewarts Point Store is now home to the female-owned baking duo behind the Two Fish Baking Company. Breathing new life into the 157-year-old store, the women started renting out a space in the store for their bakery, which has since morphed into a combination bakery, market, and eatery. Bread, sticky buns, and danishes are baked fresh daily, and the sandwiches, like the Thanksgiving-inspired Pilgrim Turkey on house-baked bread, sell out quickly. In the market, visitors to the old-timey general store can find old candy favorites, picnic stuff, beer and wine, and souvenirs.

Likely General Store, Likely

The small town of Likely is in the northeastern corner of California, in the sparsely populated Modoc County, bordered by Nevada and Oregon. There are fewer than 100 residents in Likely, but in the center of town, road-trippers along the highway won’t be able to resist stopping at the picturesque old-time Likely General Store in the middle of this small western farm town. On the main floor, the well-stocked store offers a selection of canned goods, tools, fencing supplies, and auto parts, while downstairs there‘s a small thrift shop. At one point in the mid-20th century, the store was next door to the Likely Saloon, which burned to the ground in the mid-1940s when the Likely Store was known as Harry Flournoy General Merchandise.

Sebastian’s General Store, San Simeon

Sebastian’s General Store has been a much-loved landmark for over 150 years in the historic town of San Simeon. It was built in 1852 by the Sebastian brothers, who owned and operated the false-front general store for years, providing goods and services to local fishermen, whalers, ranchers, and miners. Originally located in what was known as Old San Simeon Village, a bustling hub of hotels, saloons, and other establishments, the historic general store has witnessed a great deal of history. Rumor has it that famed newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst was a regular at the store, as the Hearst Castle is within walking distance. The general store stayed in the Sebastian family for over a century until 1988, when the last family member passed away.

Over the years, Sebastian’s has been a post office, a souvenir shop, a wine tasting room, and a restaurant. Today, the old general store still carries essentials, but also features Seaside, an in-store deli that focuses on locally sourced ingredients, like sandwiches with fun names like the Coastal Cowboy, Low & Slow, and the Italian Stallion, as well as side salads, cold drinks, and snacks to go—perfect for a picnic at nearby William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach or for fishing from the San Simeon Pier.

San Gregorio General Store, San Gregorio

Another general store, located near scenic Highway 1 along the coast of the Pacific Ocean near San Gregorio State Beach, is the San Gregorio General Store. The historic store has been open since 1889, in a 19th-century stagecoach town once packed with wealthy visitors from San Francisco. Current owner, former college professor George Cattermole, has run the store since 1978, managing to blend a hip, new-age NorCal vibe with a nostalgic slice of local history.

The old-timey store offers a wide selection of groceries, staples such as eggs and milk, a quirky assortment of books, clothing, unique gifts, cookware, hardware, and nearly everything else. There’s a small post office inside, plus a full bar renowned for its Bloody Marys, the perfect excuse to pick up the mail and stay a while. The store features live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, adding to the store’s cool energy, with performances taking place inside or outside in their Stage Yard.

Knights Ferry General Store, Knights Ferry

The Knights Ferry General Store was built in 1852 to supply the miners passing through Knights Ferry with goods and services of the day, and has been in continuous operation ever since. It claims to be California’s oldest general store. The historic town of Knights Ferry was founded only 4 years earlier, in 1848, by Dr. William Knight, who, along with a local partner, created a ferry out of an old whaling vessel to cross the Stanislaus River. The town became a hotspot for crossing the river, bringing prospectors from the port of Stockton to the gold-rich Sierra Nevada foothills.

The store has changed hands over the years, mostly recently in 2023 when Linda Osborne took ownership from longtime business and building owner Rick Maisel. With a promise to maintain consistency, the new owner didn’t change much at all, not even the name. The front of the building still operates as the Knights Ferry General Store, with shelves stocked with basic grocery items, beer and wine, and fresh local produce. The back part of the store is Rick’s Saloon and Café, which, in addition to featuring live music, has a menu of pub snacks to share like jalapeno poppers, chicken strips, chili cheese fries, sandwiches, burgers, and more.

Markleeville General Store, Markleeville

The Markleeville General Store in Alpine County traces its origins back to the town's founding in the 1860s when it operated as Harvey and Rask’s Butcher Shop and Smokehouse. In 1885, a devastating fire swept through Markleeville, destroying much of the town, including the original butcher shop. Undeterred, the shop was rebuilt and renamed Rask’s Butcher Shop. During the 1890s and 1950s, the structure underwent several changes, including the addition of a soda fountain, a service station, and a post office; however, most of these services are no longer available. For the most part, the building that still stands today remains essentially unchanged. It became a general store in the early 1900s, changed ownership several times over the years, and once hosted the “Spit and Argue Club” on the front porch.

Today, the general store stands as a testament to a town known as “the Little Town That Could.” In a region at the mercy of Mother Nature, the town has faced its share of challenges, from devastating floods to relentless wildfires. In 2022, Andy Allen-Fahlander and Avery Hellman took over the general store, determined to provide a reliable source of groceries, sundries, wool blankets, and everyday essentials for the local community. The store also stocks a few luxury items, including handmade leather bags, jewelry, artwork, and music.

J. Monteverde General Store, Sutter Creek

The history of the J. Monteverde General Store mirrors the broader story of the Golden State itself—a tale of ambition, determination, grit, and cultural diversity. Founded in 1896 by John Monteverde, an immigrant from Genoa, Italy, who came to the United States in search of his fortune during the California Gold Rush, the store exemplifies the pioneering spirit that shaped Montana. After John’s death in 1918, the general store was passed down to his daughters, who ran the family business until October 27, 1971, when they placed a hand-written sign in the window that read, “This store will be closed for a few days,” when one of the sisters got ill. The sign stayed in the store window, and the store remained closed for 20 years.

In 1992, the city reopened the store as the J. Monteverde General Store Museum. The store has remained largely untouched. There are dry goods on the wall, hardware supplies at the back of the store, and an original cast iron pot belly stove still in place. There are brown paper bags, rolls of wrapping paper, clothing, sewing supplies, hosiery, and shelves full of unopened mason jars, almost as if the store were frozen in time.

Sizemore Country Store, Volcano

Built in 1852, the Sizemore Country Store is one of California’s oldest continuously operated general stores and has been serving the locals in the once-booming Gold Rush town of Volcano in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The town of Volcano is registered as a California Historical Landmark. It lays claim to being the home of several “firsts:” the first theater group, private law school, and the first private school opened in Volcano between 1854 and 1855.

Originally called the Volcano General Store, the store was built using local limestone and bricks by town pioneers Abraham “Honest Abe” Klauber and Moses Mandelbaum. The general store was sold in 2021 from long-time owner Debbie Dunn to Tommy Sizemore, who renamed it the eponymous Sizemore Country Store. Other changes to the building include converting a storage area into a dining room, installing a large-screen television, and adding a rock fireplace. Football memorabilia adorns the old brick walls, there’s a new gift shop selling t-shirts and sweatshirts, and a seasonal BBQ out back on the garden patio with live music on weekends.

The Altamont General Store, Occidental

Occidental is a small community in Sonoma County along the scenic Bohemian Highway, about 7 miles east of Bodega Bay on the Pacific Coast. The historic village is also home to the Altamont General Store, a local landmark that was initially known as the 29-room Summit House when it was built in 1876. The hotel stood vacant for decades, until 2020, when local entrepreneurs Jenay and Andzia Hofftin launched their new mixed-use marketplace where visitors can “eat, shop, and gather.”

The Altamont General Store combines an in-store café with an outdoor space called “the Yard,” where diners can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hour. From the eclectic menu, diners can order everything from breakfast burritos, boho bowls, Korean fried chicken tacos to boozy slushies, phony negronis, and craft beer. Shoppers can find curated favorites, including linens, cookware, garden tools, gifts, and more, in the marketplace. There’s live music in the Yard, plus thanks to the size of the former hotel, there are additional boutiques to explore, like a ceramic school, an accessory shop, and various pop-ups from time to time.

California has no shortage of charming historic general stores. Among the highlights are the Stewarts Point Store, a family-run treasure in Sonoma County with deep roots dating back to 1868; the J. Monteverde General Store time capsule; and the 1885 Markleeville General Store, which has endured its fair share of natural disasters. Meanwhile, over in San Simeon, Sebastian’s serves up delicious food to go, and the Altamont General Store in Occidental reimagines its 19th-century beginnings with an on-trend marketplace, pop-ups, and eclectic eats. Each of these nine old-timey general stores tells a story that bridges California's rich past with its vibrant present.