We Are

The General Store

The Saxapahaw General Store as it now exists began in June 2008 when Jeff Barney, butcher and self-taught chef, and Cameron Ratliff, teacher and self-taught biscuit maker, worked with former owner and mill town visionary Mac Jordan to begin a new life for the convenience store and gas station that had served the community for several years.

They imagined a spot where a village could gather for food, drink and provisions, run by folks whose varied backgrounds have each taught them they can influence their world by collaborating with their neighbors.

They hoped to serve the residents of Saxapahaw with a range of products that could allow everyone to feel welcome.

They wanted to be stewards of local foods, good wine and beer, nutritious snacks, and eco-conscious dry goods, and they hoped to participate in a new kind of local economy that would strengthen fellow small businesses, promote conscious farming, and become part of a network of small communities finding a better way to live and to do business together.

Our

Staff

They are the heart of the Saxapahaw General Store—the people who bring it to life. Over the years, many have come and gone—some staying for a brief chapter, others contributing their dedication and passion over the long term. Each person adds to the rich tapestry of the store’s story.

Here are some of the names and faces behind the scenes today: the ones who prepare the food, stock the shelves, and place the orders. They’re the early risers and late-night finishers, working tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly and feels just right.

Our

Purveyors

At the Saxapahaw General Store, we know that local economies help build strong communities. And every healthy community needs a market – a place to meet friends, to find everyday provisions, and to be nourished. For that reason, we provide the village of Saxapahaw with hearty, soulful food, a caring and familiar environment, and a selection of products that serves the whole community’s everyday needs.

We are also surrounded by dozens of creative, passionate and gifted artisans and farmers who are producing, right here in NC, some of the most delicious and nourishing foods, and some of the best dry goods, to be found anywhere in the world.

Our

Community

We cannot forget those other businesses of Saxapahaw that make our community vibrant and ever-evolving. Please, when visiting the Saxapahaw General Store, consider stopping in to visit our friends in the village and just beyond.

Local Artists

At the General Store

Saxapahaw is a unique village, full of thinkers and doers, creators and builders. For years, the walls and shelf space of the General Store has been home to local artists and craftspeople selling their work. Whether it’s a painting or a well-carved walking stick or a hammock made for summer afternoons, we do what we can to help support the local creative community.

The General Store

In the press

"I was polishing off a steaming bowl of coconut curry soup when a server appeared bearing a plate of plump pan-seared diver scallops atop creamy applewood-bacon succotash and braised asparagus. The food was befitting a candlelit restaurant, but I had a view of gas pumps outside and, a few steps from my table, fluorescent-lighted aisles packed with workaday necessities — toilet paper, motor oil, sauerkraut juice (aids digestion, according to the label). This jarring contrast of farm-fresh food and service-station atmosphere is part of the appeal of the place where I was dining: the Saxapahaw General Store."

The New York Times, "Saxapahaw, NC, Middle of Somewhere, Becomes a Draw"

On the way from the car to the Saxapahaw General Store Cafe, we were beckoned by a man sitting on the patio, donning thick goggles and what looked to be a liturgical stole over casual attire. “I see you have a camera. You’ll probably be interested in this,” he said to my partner while pointing to a straw basket with something the size of an olive dangling from its high handle. Our new friend turned out to be Chris Carter, naturalist, artist and frequent diner, who had brought with him to brunch his soon-to-be-hatched monarch butterfly. Carter’s goggles were high-powered magnifying glasses, and his scarf was a “monarch vestment” made for him by his partner and dining companion, Deborah Amaral. “It represents the colors of the monarch life cycle,” she explained.

The Washington Post, "The Impulsive Traveler: Magical Happenings in Tiny Saxapahaw"

"If you’re on the far east side of the Triad, you’ll need to take Chef John Wilson, from Sofie’s Cork and Ale’s suggestion because the sandwich he recommends from Saxapahaw General Store in Saxapahaw is worth the trip. 'My favorite sandwich is the Duck Bacon Turkey Club,” Wilson said. ”It has Weaver Street Market Bakery sourdough, deli-sliced turkey, house-smoked duck bacon mayo. lettuce and tomato.'"

YES! Weekly, Chefs and Their Favorite Sandwiches

"I’m one of those people who secretly believe that there are undiscovered places in the world, tracts of jungle where heretofore thought-to-be-extinct dinosaurs roam. I believe in Bigfoot, Sasquatch, El Dorado; in caves full of gold and ancient bones and the palm-leaved pages of books bound together with the hair from an aurochs’s mane; in words written by someone whose name we will never know. Now, I believe in Saxapahaw, too."

Our State Magazine, "The Five Star Gas Station" by Daniel Wallace