Dahlonega, GA



Dahlonega, Georgia

Population: 5,117

Small Town Treasure: Dahlonega General Store

     Back in the good 'ole days, when family-owned business were the backbone of small towns across America, folks would venture into town and shop at the local general store. General stores were a place where everybody knew everybody; while elderly gentlemen enjoyed a lighting of tobacco on the front porch, women inside sifted through colorful fabrics displayed on wooden racks, trying to envision the next dress that they would sew themselves. Fathers warned their sons not to get near the wooden bales filled with candy, but they never complained because they knew the elderly wife of the store owner would sneak them each a piece of hard candy if they were well-behaved. The General Store was the social hub of small towns; the place where locals dished out the latest gossip while loading their baskets with home-made jams and jellies.

     Then came Wal-Mart... As the tyrannical corporation spawned countless numbers of their venomous super-shopping centers in small towns across America, family-owned stores that had been a part of their communities for generations were suddenly being forced to shut down because they couldn't afford to compete with Wal-mart's low prices. And so, the era of the general store was no more...

     ...Unless you live in Dahlonega, Georgia. The Dahlonega General Store has changed very little since it was established as early as the city of Dahlonega itself. Dahlonega was founded in 1832 after settlers discovered gold in the area, leading to America's first major gold rush. Ever since, The Dahlonega General Store has been the heart of the close-knit community. The friendly, southern atmosphere of the store is enough to warrant a visit, but the store offers alot more than just a good vibe. Walking into the General Store is like stepping back in time 50,60,70 years; back when the American Dream was reality. The coffee is still locally grown and remains at 5 cents a cup. Homemade jams and jellies are still on the shelves, hard candy and soap are sold in giant wooden bales instead of individually wrapped. Out-of-town visitors find themselves wishing they were locals after realizing that a place like The Dahlonega General Store is a rare survivor of the take over by corporations, a little piece of the American Dream that remains alive in the small, northern Georgia town of Dahlonega. There's a reason Dahlonega's population has increased by 40% over the last decade, people who visit the rural town find themselves not ever wanting to leave. The Dahlonega General Store and the community that has grown around it gives merit to the American Dream, proving that happiness can still be found in simplicity.