Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 70

CLOCKWISE:
The Roanoke,
Virginia, location
opened in 2020.
The former deli
at Valle Crucis
dished up simple
yet savory treats.
The Coopers
worked to reinstate
the post office
when they bought
the original store.
All but Columbia and Winston-Salem
are mountain locations.
" More often than not, downtown associations
contact us and say, 'We have a
location. We need a Mast General Store,' "
Lisa explains. " We're truly honored by
the sheer amount of phone calls. "
By now, Mast General Store has a
reputation for awakening sleepy downtowns.
When the Coopers expanded to
Waynesville, for instance, more than 50
percent of the storefronts in the downtown
district sat vacant. Now, the vacancy
rate is closer to five percent.
Ben Wilder with the Haywood County
Tourism Development Authority credits
Mast General Store for Waynesville's
revival.
70 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
" Tourists love the squeaky hardwood
floors and the cool, outdoorsy vibe, " he
says. " People come downtown specifically
to shop at Mast. "
Afterward, patrons may stop at Birchwood
Hall Southern Kitchen for toothsome
duck wings, grab a hoppy porter
at Boojum Brewery or nosh on bonbons
from Dillsboro Chocolate Factory. Point
being, Mast General Store stokes the
flames for dozens of small businesses.
And this phenomenon isn't unique to
Haywood County.
According to King, the new Roanoke
shop is already working its magic.
" When we first moved to downtown
in 2020, there was an empty space across
the street from us, " she says. " Now, that's
a restaurant and wine-tasting room. "
King rattles off other ventures that
have recently cropped up: a home goods
shop, a custom furniture store, a smattering
of eateries and even some short-term
rentals.
" We have seen a lot of growth in our
immediate area, " she says.
Put simply, " Mast General Store is a
huge economic driver, " says Jamie Carpenter,
downtown manager for the City
of Hendersonville.
As Carpenter notes, the store's eclectic
mix of seemingly everything-from
Amish rocking chairs to water purification
devices to comfy nightgowns-attracts
tourists and locals alike.
" I believe having a Mast General Store
on our Main Street sets a standard of
quality for downtown retail, " says Carpenter.
Plus, she adds matter-of-factly,
the store is the perfect place for kids and
families to " get their candy fix. "
Passing Ownership Along
Of course, there are many reasons to love
Mast General Store besides its seemingly
endless supply of Charleston Chews
and countless other candy classics. Joey
Fuseler, general manager of the Waynes

http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 4
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Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover4
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