While out on our date day last week, we drove through the small town of Windsor, Maine and decided to stop by Hussey’s General Store. The original owner, Harland Hussey opened the store in October 1923, in a remodeled stable.
Over the years, additions {and departments} were added and “today the store is home to over 30,000 square feet of groceries, sporting goods, clothing, formal gowns, hardware, and appliances. It truly defines the slogan “If We Ain’t Got It, You Don’t Need It.”
The store, seriously has EVERYTHING you could imagine. And if I lived in Windsor, or one of the neighboring towns, Hussey’s General Store would probably be the only place I shopped {well, outside of bakeries of course}.
Helpful store clerks who actually know what they are selling, no automated checkout, no flashy {and time-consuming} shopper programs, and really just a good old-fashioned country store atmosphere. I loved the place!
Hussey’s has a decent produce section where you can get a 50 pound bag of Maine potatoes for $15!
A plethora of snow shovels, warm weather gear, paint, an enormous fishing section.
Garden tools galore.
There’s even a section for the little woman to pick up some home decor items for the cabin.
And antiques! They were scattered all over the place.
Hussey’s General Store also has some really nice local items, like Pack Baskets which happen to be made about 100 miles north of the store in Lincoln, Maine {you can watch a video HERE of how they are made, it’s pretty cool}.
Then of course there are some higher end items like Yeti coolers, which honestly, isn’t something I would expect to find in a general store in a town of 2,500 in Maine. Because seriously, who would pay $300 for a cooler bag?
But then again, in a town of only 2,500 people, I wouldn’t expect to find a store that sells guns and ammo on one floor, and wedding dresses on another. {There’s got to be a story there, right?}.
I only snapped a photo of the clearance section, but if you take a look at their Instagram page, you can see the selection is rather large.
Maple sugaring supplies. The galvanized sap buckets were only $5.99 {I should have bought a few!}
We didn’t get around to marking our maple trees last fall, but now that I know where to get all the supplies for tapping trees, I know we’ll be going back to Hussey’s to next spring to load up.
So if you ever find yourself about halfway up the coast of Maine, drive inland a bit and stop at Hussey’s General Store. The store really does sell everything. 😉
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone,
~Mavis
P.S. Do you have fond memories of visiting a particular general store when you were younger? If so, leave us a comment. We’d love to hear about it.
Hussey’s General Store
510 Ridge Rd, Windsor, ME 04363
Carolina Cooper says
There is just something really hilarious about a PINK snow shovel. If the husband buys it, I guess there is NO QUESTION who it is for!!! And I suppose the “guns and gowns” are for shotgun weddings!
Lace Faerie says
Hahahaha! Good one!!
Libby says
The photo is such classic rural Maine!!! Love it 🙂
Brianna says
I haven’t ever been to a general store, I’m definitely going to add it to my list of things to do. I love the wedding dresses with what looks like a red portable urinal hanging and the wall next to them….it gave me a much needed laugh for the day.
Mavis Butterfield says
Wow! What a good eye. I just spotted it. FUNNY!!
Donna El-Shazly says
Love Gillingham’s General Store in Woodstock, VT. Used to go there every time I drove home from OH to visit my late sister.
Honeybee says
The general store in Ashford, WA is still in business, great place to stop on the way to Mt Rainier National Park.
I remember in the early 70’s there was always a big wheel of cheddar cheese sitting on the counter. We called it mountain cheese. My brothers and I would sit around the campfire eating Hershey’s bars with almonds and mountain cheese. Oddly it was a delicious combination.
Linda Sand says
That first sign cracked me up–everything you need for a country wedding: a gun, a gown, and beer.
Alison R says
I LOVE your tour of small Maine towns as my Mom is from Maine and as kids my parents would take us to visit my grandparents in Pembroke, which is located near Eastport and Machias. The closest larger town would be Bangor!!
As kids we crawled all over the state of Maine and I loved it!!
My Dad was from Massachusetts, so we were well acquainted with the great Northeast!
Thanks Mavis for the reminders of old memories,
Alison R in Coastal Georgia
Chris says
I made this cake as soon as I got home from work. Incredibly easy to make. Hubby said the batter tasted like homemade pancake batter…what??? Baked up beautifully. Filled my bundt pan, but did not overflow. It’s cooled and we are enjoying it. It smells divine. Cuts nicely. Simple elegant flavor. It’s a winner.
If you head back to King Arthur, stop by Dan & Whit’s General Store in Norbury. It’s another great store – not sure if they have wedding dresses! http://www.danandwhitsonline.com/dan-and-whits-norwich-vt.html
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you for the tip about Dan and Whit’s General Store. 🙂
Julie P says
Sadly we don’t have shops like that much anymore. There are a few still in Norfolk that sell a good variety but there used to be something similar in every large village/small town. People got cars and went to the bigger shops in the bigger towns forcing the small village shops to close. Sad days and I think more and more people are mourning their loss with fuel prices going through the roof, can’t just pop to the shops in the car any more you need to make it a worthwhile visit. I don’t think I ever saw ‘gowns’ in any of ours and we have strict gun purchasing laws here so guns just aren’t going to be available in a country store, some used to sell fuel though they couldn’t compete with the supermarkets.
Jessica says
I think I am in the minority because #1) I would love that pink show shovel and #2) I love my Yeti cooler for sweltering summer days on the beach on the South Carolina coast!
Lindsay says
Great store! Have worked there for 8 years now. Definitely worth a visit. 🙂
Judy says
Mavis, are you going to be selling some of your maple syrup on line?
Mavis Butterfield says
No, we’re just tapping for fun.