Original Mast General Store: 5-Cent Coffee Icon
A tour of North Carolina’s most nostalgic food spots, from a historic general store’s penny-priced coffee to an Asheville doughnut shop that makes treats live on the counter.
The Original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis has been serving customers since the 1880s. Its five-cent cup of coffee is a quirky reminder of a bygone era.
The building itself feels like a time capsule. Inside, a massive array of old-fashioned candy sits in big barrels, and the coffee-still sold for five cents-remains a staple. The store began as a supply point for a remote community, later adding a doctor’s office and a post office. Today it is employee-owned, with a flagship location in Valle Crucis and a nearby annex.
Historic General Stores
Shiloh General Store in Yadkin County offers a distinctly Amish experience. Owners Phil and Margaret Graber have run the shop since the early 2000s, selling scratch-made baked goods, fried chicken, chicken pot pies, Amish breads, and fresh-made whoopie pies. The shop also stocks jellies, pickles, teas, coffees, honey, butters, fresh milk, and ice cream. A front porch and the sound of horse-drawn buggies add to the slow-paced charm.
Priddy's General Store, built in the late 19th century, blends historic architecture with a lively community vibe. The store hosts live bluegrass music, holiday events, and a “Old Fashioned Christmas Drop In” complete with warm cider. Its shelves hold baked goods, quick eats, and locally made treats, reinforcing the sense of community that defines North Carolina.
E.H. Montgomery General Store in Gold Hill dates back to the 1840s. Originally a mercantile in a gold-mining town, it now offers old-fashioned treats that feel like a time-traveling side adventure.
Soda & Sweet Treats
The Soda Shop in Davidson, opened in the early 1950s across from Davidson College, has become a local staple. Its menu features scratch-made egg salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, pimento cheese, melts, hot dogs, burgers, and a variety of fries. Drinks and desserts-fresh-squeezed lime, orangeade, lemonade, floats, and malts-are legendary. The décor of booths, stools, checkered flooring, and chalkboard milkshake flavors preserves an old-school atmosphere.
Hole Doughnuts in Asheville offers a unique doughnut experience. Hand-made dough is prepared on-site, then fried to a crisp exterior and a slightly dense interior. Classic flavors include Cinnamon Sugar and Vanilla Glaze, while specialty options such as Peach Honey Thyme, Espresso Maple, and Pickle Lemonade showcase local creativity. The open kitchen lets customers watch the entire process unfold.
These spots illustrate North Carolina’s culinary soul-where history, hospitality, and unpretentious flavor converge. The last stop, E.H. Montgomery General Store, remains a living reminder of the state’s gold-mining past and its enduring love for simple, honest food.
