The Elmore Store Opened: early 1800s Owner: unknown Previous Tenants: none Cooperative: none Location: 1208 Montpelier Morrisville State Hwy, Lake Elmore, VT Photographed: August 13, 2025 Here's an interesting, unusual setup. This general store on Lake Elmore has been continuously operating since the early 1800s. When the previous owners were preparing to retire, instead of selling the store to a new owner, it was sold to a community nonprofit. The Elmore Community Trust was established in 2020 to acquire and remodel this store, which also serves as a post office and eatery. It's now run by a third-party operator but the building is owned and maintained by the community-based nonprofit, which also has plans to do similar projects on other buildings in town. You can read a lot more about the store here and here . You can also see just a glimpse of Lake Elmore behind the store above -- Vermont is not short on gorgeous scenery, but the lake is particularly beautiful. Now,...
JJ's Country Store Opened: 2025 Owner: Stephanie Burbank and DJ Rathburn Previous Tenants: Wolcott Country Store (1983-2025) Cooperative: none Location: 4076 VT-15, Wolcott, VT Photographed: August 13, 2025 Another small-town general store! This one, in Wolcott, is looking somewhat worse for the wear but came under new ownership in 2025, shortly before I photographed it in fact. Previously, the Wolcott Country Store was here from 1983 to 2025, and I don't know whether there was something else prior. The store looks to be about 4000 square feet. Tomorrow will be another general store just west of here!