<p>At country stores in Rockbridge County you’ll find delicious homemade food, a friendly hello, and at least one shelf stocked with sundries. Once the hub of their communities, these stores today are a refreshing blast from the past – and welcoming places for good conversation.</p><p><br></p><p>For an introduction to the longtime importance of country stores in rural America, don’t miss the wonderful “Cradle to Coffin: Remembering the Country Store” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9q03bMa_iM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">exhibit</a> at the <strong>Brownsburg Museum</strong> in North Rockbridge. This recreated shop displays early 20th-century medicinal products, canned goods, clothing, and toys, plus there’s helpful signage that explains the key role played by these stores. The exhibit is open on weekend afternoons from spring through December.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Gertie's Country Store</strong> in Vesuvius in North Rockbridge is a fun stop for hikers driving to Crabtree Falls and cyclists pedaling the TransAmerica Trail. Locals love it for breakfast, lunch, and chocolate peanut butter pie. Be sure to sign the wall. <strong>Dottie’s Country Store</strong> in Fairfield, between I-81 and Route 11, is tiny, but it holds some of the best lunchtime fare around. A hot entree with two sides and roll comes in just under $10. Say yes to the mac &amp; cheese.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Layne’s Country Store</strong> on the way to Natural Bridge is stocked with a wide selection of products, from jams and jellies, and fresh produce to jugs of moonshine, pocket knives, and country hams. The deli sells country ham and hoop cheese sandwiches. At the <strong>Natural Bridge General Store &amp; Nattie B’s Cafe</strong> you’ll find beer, wine, snacks, peanuts, jams and jellies, fixin’s for country ham biscuits, and a great little cafe. The store also sells brown bag picnic lunches with a sandwich and chips for $8 – great for hikes on the nearby Appalachian Trail.</p><p><br></p><p>Free samples of candy are one of the many charms of <strong>Coiner Country Store</strong>, an Amish store<strong> </strong>in Buena Vista. Stop here for sundries, sodas, old-fashioned candies, local eggs and milk, jams and jellies, and kitchen supplies.</p><p><br></p><p>In Goshen, pop into pocket-sized <strong>Goshen Country Store</strong> for sandwiches, snacks, sodas, beer, lottery tickets, and Moonpies. They even sell oysters in season! Down the road, <strong>BG’s 2</strong> is more of a hometown restaurant than country store, but you can buy gas, chips, soda, slices of pie, and well, live bait – night crawlers in particular! You can also order menu items to-go.&nbsp;</p>