Christmas at Middlebrook General Store in the Shenandoah Valley

It's Christmas at the Middlebrook General store with a variety of Virginia-made products available for those who are looking for unique gifts. Located on Rt. 252 in the heart of Middlebrook, Virginia, they are 15 minutes south of Staunton.

There is a great selection of Virginia-made wines for your Christmas list.

Books on Virginia historic places are available ...

... as is Alligator Bob's jerky. Anyone can eat beef jerky but have you ever tried alligator?

Bubba Beagle's Homemade Gourmet Dog Biscuits are brought in from Richmond ... and they are edible for humans, too!

Homemade dish clothes, hearth brooms, rag rugs ... you can find them all.

Canned goods of all kinds are available. I picked up some apple butter that had been made by the Middlebrook Ruritans.

The pot-belly stove really works. Stop by for lunch and try the soup on a cold wintry day. I had potato soup one chilly day recently when I was there ... it was filling and yummy. Or just stop by for conversation with the locals.





New deck built onto the building will act as a seating area with tables for next year. It overlooks the creek that runs beside the store.



Antiques are on display ...

... as well as goodies of all kinds. This is the original counter and cash register.

More locally-made goodies ...

... and soups, dips, and more.





"Support & Honor Our Troops" ... if you stop by be sure to check out the chalk board with names of local military personnel. The store owner is a Navy veteran; one of the clerks is an Army veteran (nurse).

Monastery Gourmet Honey from Virginia.

What is it about old country stores that is so comforting? Perhaps I feel comfortable in the aisles with the old wooden floors and counters because of an uncle in North Carolina who owned the old family store and, as a child, my sister and I would race up and down the aisles and stare in amazement at all the products that were stocked on shelves, in corners, in the store room.

A country store is a little like the heart of a village ... and Middlebrook General Store fits that description. A meeting place ... a place to learn the local news ... a place for musicians to gather on Friday nights ... and a place to pick up light groceries or a soft drink or lunch or Christmas goodies that are Virginia-made ... the atmosphere is heart-warming and welcoming.

If you are in the Shenandoah Valley, find your way to Middlebrook on Rt. 252 south of Staunton ... and check out the Middlebrook General Store. And be sure to tell Tom, the owner, or Chris, Hannah, or Millie -- whichever one is working that day -- that you read about it on SWAC Girl!

Christmas in the Shenandoah Valley ... at the Middlebrook General Store.

Photos by SWAC Girl