Mast General Store is one of our favorite downtown Asheville shops. It really does feel like an old-time general store, from the creaky floorboards to the variety of goods they sell (including old-fashioned candy!) I always recommend it to friends before they visit and thought it would be fun to tell you what we love about Mast General Store!
1. The old-fashioned candy
First on the list is their old-fashioned candy! The candy section is always our first stop in Mast General Store. Candy is sold by the pound and there are baskets you can grab and fill up. They have everything from Boston Baked Beans to GooGoo Clusters, Mary Jane’s to Moon Pies. You can also find ‘regular’ candy like Hershey bars, Laffy Taffy and Tootsie Rolls. I always opt for the stuff I can’t find anywhere else, though!
2. Mast General Store’s branded jams, jellies and other goods
Apart from the really fun candy section, Mast General also has tons of jarred jams, jellies, pickles and BBQ sauces. You can’t go wrong with any of these goodies, but I especially love their apple butter. In the same area, you’ll find a ton of other snacks like peanuts, wasabi peas, and local Asheville favorite Poppy Popcorn. They also sell freshly popped popcorn for $1. I myself always opt for that, a Blenheim’s spicy ginger ale and a GooGoo cluster!
3. Mast General Store’s Outdoor Gear
If you need to update your outdoor gear, Mast General has a great selection. Take the stairs down to the basement level in the center of the store and you’ll enter their outfitters where you will be inspired to venture into the great outdoors. From hiking boots to camping gear, sunglasses to skiing essentials, Mast carries some of the best quality brands available. They’ve saved me a time or two when packing for a ski trip and needing a last-minute pair of gloves or base layer. Oh and make sure you check out their sale racks — you can find some real steals at the end of a season.
4. The Best Unique Gifts in Asheville
Mast General is our go-to gift store in Asheville for gifts for all ages. From toys to apparel, sunglasses to foodie treats, you will certainly find the gift you are looking for. We always love to buy from their vintage toy section, complete with a LiteBrite, a SpiroGraph and Rock’em Sock’em Robots. They even have slingshots made of real wood!
5. An important one: That Mast General Store Feel
There’s something about a general store in a mountain town that just feels right. When you walk into Mast, it feels like you’ve entered a bygone era where your could shop small and local and find everything you want under one roof. The store is spacious and airy, with a tall ceiling and creaky wide plank hardwood floors. And in case you need some reassurance of the laid-back atmosphere, there are large rocking chairs waiting in the middle of the store for you to relax and take a load off. A true local gem.
6. Mast is a great activity for the whole family
I always recommend Mast General because it’s such a fun destination for all ages. It’s an especially good adventure when it’s raining out because it’s a fun, dry activity for the whole family.
