General Store

In our fast paced world, there's a place on Long Island where time just moves at a different speed. Look at it. Of course, we're talking about the St. James General Store, a living piece of And we got Joel Garc Yeah, can I just tell So, and it's There's pictures of my dad and They moved from Brooklyn out to Long Island. In the store? Outside the store, Wow. Yes, It is so, so special. In a world that seems to change by the minute, there are still places where tradition isn't just remembered. It is treasured. And that is the St. James General Store, where for more than a century and a half, the past remains beautifully present. When the bell rings as you walk through the door, you're immediately transported, not just to another place, but to another time. Silly putty, the original Duncan yoyos. Every time you walk in, there is somet T James General Store, where for 168 years, not much has changed. And that's exactly the point. Say it's pretty iconic as being the longest continuously operated general store in the entire country. It has never closed its doors. It's a place where penny candy still costs pennies, where memories, tradition and These small bottles were used for the measuring of the medications. You posted a paper and that is how you spread. You feel it, even hear it in every creaking floorboard. If you could imagine for a second what this town was James. It was a pretty integral part of the community. It was the hub for everyt So you came here to get all of your needs for a typical day in the 19th century. What is a typical day in the 19th century? What would someone's needs be back then? So agriculture was big, so you could come here and get all of your tools, seed, grain. You would come here for groceries, candy obviously, for kids, so that part has remained the same since the beginning. You would also come here for medications. There was a pharmacy, and it was just a really cool place to hang out. You would also have a fire and visual coordinator, currently keeping the magic alive. And that's really where the magic is, seeing how excited the kids get to see all these t Back in the 1800s, you would come and exchange mail, and we also have the original fridge. You would have all your ice in here, all your perishables, actually a little spot under here where you could strike a match. Upstairs, where celebrations once took place, now houses books about local I t A friendly ghost, for sure. Yeah, there's amazing energy in t I have never felt anyt We have the original phone in the village. So if someone needed to use the phone, they would come to the general store. Yeah, so to paint a picture, it's much different than it is now. You would actually have to wait and get a ticket with a n So magical here. What can you tell me about that bear over there? Madeline has worked here for 29 years. She'seen generations grow up in these aisles. I went from fearing that bear to knowing I have pictures with that bear. Because all the c In a world that moves faster every day at the St. James General Store, we'reminded of the beauty in slowing down. What do you love about the St. James General Store? From the time I came in here, it had a home feeling. And working with the people that I worked with for so many years, it's almost It feels There's And they get to show me how to keep the It feels very much alive. Yeah, I know So I will just say, if you find yourself on Long Island, head to St. James and pop in the General Store. It is magical. Now you see why. Yeah, it is gorgeous. What a treasure to have grown up around that. Yeah, I know. And now it's a destination. It really is. So thank you for allowing me to share the story. It would be a lovely place to take the train out and just kind of spend the day. And you can stop at the Guard Jullo Bakery on the way. Oh, hey! My family doesn't own it anymore, but they used to, it's right over there. We know the Guard Jullo Bakery, we know St. James. And we learned about your roommate today in Albany from St. James. Yeah, that was your roommate. Oh, I forgot that one. That was your roommate. We learned so much about you today, Joelle. It's fantastic. And yet you've just scratched the surface.