Which Maine Town Has the Oldest General Store Still in Operation?

Where in our Pine Tree State can you take a figurative step back in time and visit one of the oldest general stores in America?

It’s cliché to say ‘they don’t make ’em like they used to,’ but when it comes to general stores, it’s true. They used to be the heart of small towns—places where people grabbed their essentials, swapped stories, and caught up on local gossip.

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With that in mind, how do we know for certain that this town in Maine is home to the oldest general store still in operation?

To be honest, we can’t know for sure how old some general stores really are. The New England Historical Society points out that records can be sketchy and that claims about age are sometimes exaggerated. We're also digging into articles from Only In Your State and Maine Features to learn more about one general store that just might be Maine’s oldest.

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Now that we’ve sorted that out, based on the accounts we've cross-referenced and double-checked—where exactly can Maine’s oldest general store be found?

According to the New England Historical Society, Only In Your State, and a blog entry from Maine Features, it appears that the oldest general store still in operation here in Maine is the Hope General Store, located in Hope.

Credit: Google Maps

The Hope General Store, built in 1832 and located at 449 Camden Rd. in Hope, has been a cornerstone of the community for generations.

According to those sources, this historic spot has served as everything from a Grange hall to a post office, and today still sits proudly at the center of town.

Credit: Google Maps

There you have it—as far as we can tell, the oldest general store still running in Maine is the Hope General Store.

What are your thoughts on Maine’s oldest general store? Have you ever visited the Hope General Store? We’d love to hear from you! Join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

The General Stores Of Downeast Maine

These are the long-time general stores that are spread throughout downeast Maine. The stores that your grandparents picked up milk, beer, and that night's dinner at. For years they had been filled with things like fly paper, clothes, beef jerky, and that morning's newspaper. Now, you stop by for that slice of breakfast pizza, a tasty fried chicken sandwich for lunch, gas,and a handful of lottery tickets.

They're an important part of Maine's heritage, and their numbers are starting to dwindle. But we still frequent them to pick up the day's necessities and to keep up on town gossip.

They may not be owned by the original owners, and they may not look the same as they did years and years ago. But that same hometown feeling is there, the minute you set foot on their wooden floors. More than likely the same wooden floors that your grandparents set foot on.

Gallery Credit: DJ Fred