Mason jar mugs on wooden crates filter natural sunlight from the window behind, while a kaleidoscope of colour from the artwork on walls is reflected in old-fashioned tin ceilings. The smell of freshly brewed coffee lingers in the air as shoppers peruse the sundries, jewellery and housewares on display in James North General Store, a co-venture by shopkeepers Darren Kregar and Dave Shaw.
“We try to cater to the community and be a bit of everything,” Darren explains of the shop’s philosophy. With its mix of antique, new, old and vintage merchandise, the store harks back to an old-time general store capturing the ability to excite the everyday shopper with its wondrous assortment of goods. Darren is quick to note that unlike general stores of the past, the store is not cluttered from floor to ceiling. “It is more of a boutique general store,” Darren says of the contemporary goods lining the shelves.
