We were on vacation in the area and it was raining; a perfect time to visit the Mast General Store!…read more We slowly walked through the entire store, picked out a handful of our favorite candies and a cold bottle of pop. We sat on the front sidewalk and watched the clouds roll by. I noticed a section of the wall at the front entrance that showed the water lines at different times in history (see picture). That is the kind of history that only an old building has seen. The people that work here are glorious! Very helpful! They made our visit that much more memorable. This is a must visit location for all ages when you are visiting the area! Most Sincerely, Dayla

The Original Mast General Store is located in Valle Crucis, NC. It was opened by Henry Taylor back…read morein 1883 as the Taylor General Store and has been operating ever since, so they are definitely doing something right! The landmark is on the National Register of Historic Places and is quite a popular place. While you won't be able to park right out front as they did in the past, there is plenty of parking located conveniently behind the store. W.W. Mast bought a half stake of the business in 1897, then bought the other half in 1913, changing the name to Mast General Store It was truly the Amazon of its day, offering everything you could possibly need with the motto, "goods for the living, coffins and caskets for the dead," which prompted the local phrase, "If you can't buy it here, you don't need it ." When the economy changed and the original store closed in 1977, it was thankfully saved and reopened in 1980 by preservationists John and Faye Cooper The front corner of the store features an active town post office The store spans two levels with beautifully creaking floorboards that instantly let you know you are in a nostalgic place filled with history. A lot of the original advertising posters from Mr. Mast are still mounted on the walls alongside the vintage counters and fixtures The original cast iron potbellied wood stove is still used to heat the store, the functional wooden trap doors in the floorboards still remain from where chickens historically were traded for store credit, and you can even get a cup of coffee for just 5 cents. You will find a massive variety of cast-iron cookware, old-fashioned candy in barrels, postcards, books, high-quality clothing, footwear, toys, and traditional mercantile goods. I even bought a delicious fried apple pie! The historic Little Red Schoolhouse sits right behind the main building and offers clearance merchandise, though I just enjoyed looking at the older architecture and reading about the school.

Beautiful Art on display in various rooms. Paintings, sculpture, jewelry and woodwork make for a…read morerelaxing afternoon. The grounds are just as beautiful as the art inside. I have passed by here for years and never stopped. So glad I finally did! Beautiful!

This is a gorgeous gallery full of amazing fine art! A wide variety of artists are represented here…read moreincluding Toni Carlton. Come here to window shop and be amazed or to purchase that one exquisite piece that will be treasured for a lifetime and beyond. It also offers lovely handmade jewelry for a perfect birthday or holiday or anniversary gift. Not to mention the beautiful textiles...hats, gloves, jackets. There is a surprise around every corner. Oh and they offer lessons!

Interesting items / love supporting local artists. This is a wonderful place to find gifts.read more

Adorable shop! I purchased a beautiful pair of beaded earrings. I will return the next visit to…read moreBoone

This Mast General Store was the 2nd of it's kind to open, apparently about 100 years after the…read morefirst...but still an OG. The store offers a small throw back to simpler times, selling anything and everything one would need for their household under one roof. They even had a slogan early on of "if you can't buy it here, you don't need it". The store offers homewares (glassware, plates, pots, pans and cast iron), decor, snack items, jelly's/jams, milled products, soaps, gifts, clothing, camping gear, and even barrels upon barrels of candy by the pound. With 2 floors fully stocked of product, it offers a glimpse of how things were in olden times. Pricing on many items is very fare, from what I saw and was able to compare. Staff were all very friendly, checking in as we shopped to see if there is anything we could be helped with. It's a fun store to poke through, with lots of nostalgia

We have visited other locations, but this one was nice because we were able to bring our dog inside…read morewith us! There is clothing, kids stuff, candy, and outdoor gear. We picked up cowtail candy and ate some pieces on the spot. They are kid and pet friendly and a nice spot to come in and walk around in.

This is a nice little boutique just off Main Street selling a variety of handmade items. On a…read morerecent visit, I bought some earrings, a necklace, and a pottery olive oil keeper. The also have artwork, wooden pens, and soaps/lotions. The prices are what you would expect in Blowing Rock, but regardless, I was happy with my purchases. I'll definitely be back!

Cute little shop with beautiful handmade items. Prices are reasonable and items are great quality…read more Bought a beautiful cheese board handmade close by in the area. They gave a paper with instructions on how to care and clean. Very sweet people. Will come again!

I recently stopped at this artisans Market since it was open on a monday. The store is pretty…read morecomprehensive and features great one of a kind items that you can't find anywhere else. We found a lot of great kitchenware and even some quilts that we were interested in too. Staff here was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the booths and the artists. Prices here are most likely Sky High but they do have great events that are worth checking out too that are advertised inside the store or online.

Great selection of items created by local artists priced reasonably. Make this the first selection…read moreof places to visit in Abingdon Virginia.

Beautifully nestled off the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway near Blowing Rock, this historic facility…read moreis worth the visit. Unfortunately we did not check the newly updated times they are open to go inside. On this day they were closed. The setting, grounds and trails are breathtakingly beautiful. Some were picnicking under a tree near the Manor entrance. We saw cows in a nearby pasture. One person was on a horse. The property even includes an Apple Orchard. We will return again when the Museum is open and we can also see the crafts offered for sale.

Our visit came in June of 2021 with the accompanying restrictions imposed by the pandemic and…read moreshortage of staff. That means parts of the manor are roped off, construction work on the house is in progress and the craft shop is operating out of a somewhat cramped space. That said, it's well worth a visit here. The views are amazing, and the crafts are wonderfully diverse yet so attractive (everything from lamps to trays to blown glass) and they are nicely displayed, though we should mention that the Southern Folk Art Center closer to Asheville has much larger collections in its shop and museum. The people working here couldn't be more helpful to visitors. The manor is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and parking is easy if limited. There are hiking trails nearby and restrooms also. It makes for a delightful stop with lots of do and see.

Great business, a variety of items to choose from. Also offers knit and crochet classes.read more

I recently discovered this awesome boutique. It has a great selection of specialty yarn as well as…read morecute women's clothing and gift items. The owner is very knowledgeable and helpful. There are a couple designated times during the week when people meet there to do crafts and chat. Lovely place!!

They put Fairy Hair in the correct way, one strand at a time and it is good quality silk…read more Having Fairy Hair puts a spring in your step and a smile on other people's faces. I love it

Great store. I get my fairy hair done here. Very reasonable and it stays in for 6 months. Highly…read morerecommend

Most everyone knows you can get all of what you need, but did you know that also includes notary…read moreservices? Just before our trip here, our realtor notified us of our home closing date. Being that was July 3, no one would even talk to us to get these documents signed before the holiday. We brought our documents dd with us to NC in hopes we would find some kind, willing, souls to help us close on one house. Over the weekend, I reached out to a few notaries, realtor offices, and even attorneys. That have us a few leads but nothing definite. My dad recommended we try Fred's- "they have and do everything! As parents usually are, he was correct. We dropped in on Sunday and were told to come back Monday during working hours. We arrived mid day Monday and the manager stopped what he was doing to notarize our documents, even asking those managing the front desk to sign as witnesses. We are ever so thankful this is done! To top things off, they even have a UPS drop off location which saved us a trip to Banner Elk. Thank you SO very much for your kindness and expertise! Now we have a great story about how we sold our FL house in Beech Mountain, courtesy of Fred's!

I have been to Fred's several times. This last visit was disappointing. The staff could stand to be…read morea little more helpful and welcoming.