St James General Store

Oh how I love this shop!
A necessary staple to Saint James that will hopefully be here for ever and ever. This is a wonderful place to stop in and browse if you are in the are. The selection of stock they carry is incredible. There is something for everyone and every occasion!
Weddings, animals lovers, golfers, baby’s/children/ moms and dads, gardeners… the list just goes on!
They usually will stock for the season which is always fun. The candy that is offered is unlike candy you can find anywhere else! The prices are comparable to home goods as well which is always a plus! I like to sometimes stop in here on a gloomy day and cheer my self up with a little gift for me :)

Adorable general store dating back to the «Smith» (of Smithtown) family in the 1800’s. Different «giftable» items like serving dishes and tea sets from Ireland, Christmas ornaments, old-​style childrens toys, hand made candles, lavender sachets, picture frames. Old-​fashioned candies in the jar that you can pick and fill a bag. Salt water taffy, fudge, licorice strings, home made chocolates, jams and jellies etc.
If you’re in the area and need a dose of nostalgia or a nice hostess gift, stop in.

Cute little place on Moriches road in St. James/​Smithtown. We first discovered it when visiting relatives on Long Island last year, and now when we return we always want to stop in for some old timey candy and to see all the unique and cool stuff they offer for sale.
Homemade jam, fudge, various christmas ornaments, postcards, kids toys, you name it, it’s probably in there. Not the type of place to pick up a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread but that’s ok. For what it is, you will be very happy.
Check it out!
Oh, they close at 5 pm daily so get there early or you’ll miss out.

Okay I don’t know about the cookies from the 1970’s– When I was a kid all I wanted was molasses paddle and a bottle of coke in the glass, from the open and close self serve machine located out front.
It has seen a lot of changes over the years. The old house used to be that– an old house owned by a Smith «the Bull» family. Its been there as long as Millers Pond and the like in Smihtown.
This area doesn’t exist any more– not like it was. Perhaps its the times, perhaps its all too close to the LIRR, who knows, Perhaps, its just a economic squeeze. What ever no one can take away great memories.
PS I think I still have splinters in my butt as I sat on the front porch swing and the porch so many times. Smiles…

This is a cool «turn back the hands of time» working general store from the 1800’s. They sell the traditional «old-​timey» candies in big jars, but they also have a huge assortment of specialty gifts. My most favorite time to go to the general store is before Christmas. Head to the back of the store, make a right and go up the rickety stairs to the second floor. Their Christmas tree displays are spectacular. You can buy individually sold hand-​painted ornaments or the typical boxed variety. It’s a tradition now that every year I buy a few ornaments and write the year I purchased on the bottom. Don’t hesitate, go check out this place which is actually run by Suffolk County Dept of Parks. Hope it stays open for many years to come.

I used to go here as a child in the late 70’s early 80’s (of the 20^th Century, that is); and I remember getting these FANTASTIC chocolate chip cookies there; they were always slightly mysterious. My Mom would have us sit in the car, and she would run in, and come back out with a little bag, and she usually only had a couple of cookies in there (I suspect she gobbled one or two while still in the store, but whateva!). I remember her telling us that the store said an old lady baked them and wouldn’t give away her recipe. They were so luscious and filled with rich chocolate — maybe they were chocolate chunks in the cookies.
I went back there a couple of years ago, and the staff smiled when I inquired about the cookies, and they said a lot of people had asked about them, but they didn’t know anything about the cookies or the baker.
Does anyone out there remember this too?
In any event, the General Store is worth a look, lots of souvenir type items and penny candies there for sale, and the store has the creaky boards and museum smell of an old building. Feels like it could be a part of Bethpage Village Restoration.