This is a must visit and worth the 30-45 min drive from the airport! Make it a lunch date and spend an hour or two shopping. Great gifts, seasonal deco, soups, dips, frames, home gear, clothes, baby gear. Fabulous and we are appreciative that our friends introduced us to it through fun gifts we have received. A true MN experience!
This is the place to go when you can't find something for that person who is hard to buy for. Guaranteed you will find something. Even if you are not Christmas shopping, it is always fun to visit the General Store during the holidays or anytime. They always have fun and unique items - they even have things that are sometimes hard to find. It is worth the trip but make sure you have plenty of time - there is a lot to see!!! There is also a little restaurant in the store if you want to take a break from the shopping overload. Good food and not too pricey.
I love going to the General Store because it changes so often! It is always fun to see what new things they have out! A friend who had not been there before went with me this time. You have to plan to spend some time there as there is so much to look at! Don't forget to go upstairs also!
This store stocks things you can't always find anyplace else. Some things are local and handmade. They used to have more handmade things than they do now, though. They recently added a Pandora shop. This also is a fun place just to hang out in for an afternoon. Great place to find gifts.
Beware if you have sensitivity to scents, as this store always has a warm inviting seasonal scent. This place is packed with so many local and imported hand made trinkets and toys. This is a must stop for us around the holidays.
This store is full of unique items that you won't find anywhere else! I especially love browsing the handmade items from local artists. Be sure to check out the clothing boutique upstairs - so many cute clothes at affordable prices! Dinner in the new Cafe and Bistro is also excellent. During lunchtime, it is deli style - where you order salads and sandwiches at the counter (as it has been for years). Now they serve dinner too! I was surprised that they transform it into a sit down restaurant at night where you are waited on. It is a perfect date spot or place to go with girlfriends. The Wild Rice Hotdish is so yummy - it is "deconstructed" - not a typical hotdish that is all thrown together. It is a unique twist on a Minnesotan comfort food that you won't find at any restaurant nearby. My husband got the pork loin, which was also really good. They serve wine and beer now, which made my husband happy! The selection of bottled local beers is pretty good, and they have a few local wines as well.One tip I would leave is to come early if you are here for lunch, as it gets very busy (especially around the Holiday season).
Periodically I try the GS Cafe for lunch take out hoping that it has gotten better but sadly it has not. Today I ordered the Chicken and Wild Rice Soup which should have been called Onion soup Hardly any wild rice or chicken but it was loaded with onions. The popover is alwasy good and it did not disappoint but when I got back to my office there was no butter or honey butter. For over $8.00 I expect better. Try Eddington's instead.
I was given a gift card for General Store so I went with my husband and 10 year old daughter. This place definitely has character with its old floors and maze-like shopping experience. Many of the gift items were retro, which I'm not really into, but it was still fun to look at. My husband didn't last long and he wished there was a place for him to sit. I really had to be careful to not lose my daughter because it's impossible to see more than a few feet ahead of you because of the maze-like layout. I don't recommend going there with large groups, strollers, small children, wheelchairs or walkers. I imagine it would be a lot more fun during the Holidays. We were hoping for more Northwoods items, but there still was plenty of other gift items to look at.
I have been going to the General Store since the early 1980's.I just love the selection of gifts they have.The cafe is great especially the popovers and treats.Buy one of their cookbooks,many wonderful recipes.I love the clothing selection upstairs.The personalized area is great for children's gifts.You will not leave empty handed.
This store has the most unique gifts--two floors of awesome things to buy. They also have a Cafe with great food ( cafeteria style but cute.