Danbury, North Carolina
I have no way of remembering the first time I walked into Priddy’s General Store. Let me rephrase that: I probably did not walk into the general store, since the first time I visited, I was a baby or a small toddler. Priddy’s General Store has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. It is a place I associate strongly with my grandfather. We would stop for a drink and a snack, then sit and visit for a little while. My grandfather would often get vanilla wafer cookies that were in a gold foil package. I usually would try something a little different. Priddy’s General Store is a place that I still stop at whenever I head back home, and I’ve enjoyed introducing my sons to this place that means so much to me. The store is always special to me as it provides a place for the community to come together. In North Carolina, Priddy’s General Store is the second-oldest continuously operating general store in the state. I never thought much about the store’s history when I lived a couple of miles away, but it is something I definitely think about now whenever I go back to visit. There are several items of merchandise at Priddy’s General Store that are hard to find elsewhere, especially in places that aren’t general stores. Whether it is Pointer Overalls, Nehi Drinks, or a bologna sandwich with a slice of hoop cheese, Priddy’s General Store is the place to find some more nostalgic merchandise.
Priddy’s General Store is usually pretty busy when open, and people will come through as part of the tourist trade in this part of North Carolina. Thanks to the Sauratown Mountains and the Dan River, people have long come to Stokes County for rest and recreation. A short five-minute trip from downtown encourages people to come out to the store, which has been run in the same location by the same family since 1888. The store has been featured in Our State Magazine and in numerous news articles and documentaries. The store even served as a movie location for Cabin Fever, a cult classic horror movie from 2002.
It was great to have an institution like Priddy’s General Store in the place where I grew up. If you’re traveling through a small town, you can often find an older store, take the time to go in, show it some patronage, and appreciate the generations of people who keep the business’s legacy going strong. As for me, I’m sure I’ll stop in while I’m back home. I’ll probably buy some kind of snack and drink I do not necessarily need, but walking through the front door brings back so many memories. As I have aged, I realize that the people I remember probably had similar memories of the people they saw at the store when they were children. If you are in Danbury, stop by anytime between Monday and Saturday (the store is closed on Sundays). I encourage you to drop in and enjoy the ambiance of the 137-year-old store. If you are fortunate enough to be present for a Pickin’ at Priddy’s Event, stop in and enjoy the music, too, which usually includes live bluegrass music and a festive atmosphere. Priddy’s General Store has always held a special place in my life, and it goes to show you that some of the best travel gems might just be right down the road from your front door.
