Shelby Forest General Store

I give four-​stars for two reasons: This is an unique, special little place with a homey atmosphere you can’t get anywhere else, and because the family that runs this place is so genuinely, sincerely nice, warm, and friendly. To be honest, and I’m so sorry to say this, but the burger was only ok for me. I think they should buy better patties; that would easily increase the overall product’s quality 100%.

The name says it all. A general store conveniently located near Shelby Forest. I have been to the Shelby Forest General Store twice. Both times it has been for an after run breakfast sandwich. There is a food counter in the store that offers a standard breakfast menu. I have ordered the sausage, egg and cheese biscuit both times. They make a good, reasonably priced breakfast sandwich and it is very cheesy (a good thing in my book). Once you order your food, grab a cold beverage and head outside to one of the picnic table to enjoy your food.

I am ashamed to say that I’ve been in Memphis for over 4 years now, and have gone to the Meeman Biological Field Station and Shelby Forest countless times without ever stopping here… until now!
This adorable little place offers quite the experience. Very southern. Very cozy. Very friendly. Clearly still running because it is sustained by the community members that frequent it. It felt like being transported back in time. It is essentially a rustic cabin with taxidermy all over the walls, and random old items placed on the shelves for decoration (super old fans, ancient radios, medicine bottles, snake skin, etc.).
I came here with some friends for Friday steak night, which also includes a live band. The people that work there are incredibly sweet. Most notable thing about this place is the epic number of soda options (haven’t seen the original glass bottle coke in ages). I was the only vegetarian in the group, so I got grilled cheese with coleslaw and delicious fries. My 3 friends got steaks. I was pretty happy with my meal, and my friends were very satisfied with their steaks. We later learned that the steaks are soaked in a tub of butter, which explained how yummy they were. They also had some delicious fried pies (about 16 different flavors if I remember correctly). My bill ended up being nearly ~$ 8 but my friends ended up paying a little over $ 20. We all thought it was worth the experience!

This place is amazing! It has the charm of an old country general store… oh, it is! Kodos to the owner for keeping this place running. I could tell this is the community’s base. The staff knew everyone, gave all customers equal attention and served up some stupidly delicious food.
They are famous for their burgers and rightfully so. They are cooked on an old griddle that I am sure contributes to the flavor. The buns are soft and sweet. The fries are crisped perfectly and the fried pies took me back to my granny’s kitchen in Sparta, TN! This place is definitely worth the drive. I love this place.

Can’t ask for anything more. Food cooked to order, food to take out, packaged foods, sweets, variety of cold drinks… Including beer! Will definitely return for a burger and beer in the future. Would love to slowly drink some coffee on the front porch!

You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. Imagine a rustic cabin in the middle of nowhere and this is what you get — complete with home cooking goodness that you only find in the south. Plus there is something about taxidermy hanging on the walls that makes me nostalgic. (I know that sounds like sarcasm, but I am being 100% earnest… I grew up with an avid hunter as a father, who liked to hang his trophies.)
I followed my fellow Unilocalers advice and got the cheeseburger. It was everything they said and more. Definitely glad I listened to the tip about the seasoned fries as well. And I haven’t seen this much choice in sodas in a looooooooong time. You can also stock up on chips, cookies, and random items you may need while exploring Millington or Shelby Forest. And when I went to the bathroom I quickly realized it was right by the crickets home (for fishing) so I got serenaded with a little song. Sigh. Loves it.

I would probably never have ventured in here without a friend of mine who frequents this place. It’s rather rustic and the snake skin hanging across the ceiling is kind of creepy. It’s also the kind of place that one could become over focused on the possibility that this place is seeping with germs. Bottom line, it’s a country store. Down home, in the woods kind of store that I honestly wouldn’t have expected to find in Memphis. It’s actually quite fantastic, because it has basic essentials you’d need for spending a day out at Shelby Forrest but it also has a wonderful little diner inside that is perfect for an after-​hike snack! What was even more cooler was they let us leave to eat outside without paying, promising we’d be back to come in and pay. It’s nice to see small business who are personable and trusting with their customers.
Tips for a good experience:
–get a burger! great tasting — go easy on onions or sauce if you typically like those light. They sauce both sides of the bun and use red onions — buyer beware!
–onion rings — probably the best I’ve EVER had! Get some!
–eat outside! It’s relaxing and takes your attention away from the snake skin on the ceiling.
–grab a hard to find can of soda. They have many types of canned soda. Grab one from your childhood or one you’ve never had.
Overall, unexpected greatness. More than a snack joint, this place is an experience!

After a hike in Shelby Forest, wifey and I stopped into the general store for a bite to eat at their little grill. Cute little place that dates back to the ‘20s. Food is good, a bit a history on the walls to look at while you wait and a convenient store inventory if you need to stock up for the drive or headed back into the park. Upon returning to Memphis proper, seems that everyone who grew up in this area has been there at least once. Gets busy when the weather is ideal for park visitors.

This rustic general store sits between the two main entrances to Shelby Forest park, which makes it the prime spot for picking up any last minute camping needs. The shelves are stocked with groceries, sodas, six packs and snacks, and an entire wall at the back of the store is covered in multicolored Frisbees. Handwritten signs (one in sharpie implores visitors to «ask about the $ 10,000 reward») and photos from trips to the forest are tacked up everywhere.
A large portion of the general store is devoted to a diner-​style restaurant that serves just about everything. The menu jumps from fried delicacies (mushrooms, poppers, etc.) to burgers and turkey melts, to catfish fillet plates and steaks. Even on steak night, none of the food costs more than $ 10.
I ordered a world famous cheeseburger, which comes recommended (at least at the 2009 Grammys) by Millington native Justin Timberlake. I ate mine sitting at the counter, under the watchful eye of a veritable forest of taxidermied critters. My burger, which came wrapped in wax paper and held together with toothpicks, was huge and juicy. It was topped with cheddar cheese, a tomato slice, lettuce, ketchup, mustard and chopped red onions. While it wasn’t the most amazing burger I’ve ever had, it was far from the worst. It was fresh, filling, and best of all, cheap — my sandwich and a drink came to $ 5.75.
Though the 75 year-​old store is only about 30 minutes away from downtown Memphis, the distance seems much further. It’s open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Great little place. Nice people and good food. Won’t have a lot of choices for other places to eat out there but their food is good. Cheeseburger is great.

…we have been back for regular meals (e.g. ‘world famous’ hamburgers) since we went for steak night and the reality is that their food is just NOT GOOD. In fact, their breakfasts and their sandwiches are border line gross.
It is a shame, that’s for sure. It’s a cool place and the service is very friendly.
Steak night is the the only worthwhile thing they offer.