Ohio’s Oldest General Store

Built in the 1840s this old-time General Store is located in the heart of Amish country in Geauga County. A sweet little country store that is family-owned by the Schaden’s. I love that they have made it their goal to bring you to a place of welcoming nostalgia…back to yesteryear, by way of the End of the Commons General Store.

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End of the Commons Facebook

End of the Commons Facebook

Visit End of the Commons General Store

Since the 1840s this General Store has been serving the people in the rural areas from their basic household needs to getting a stubborn tooth pulled. General stores have long since been the meeting place of the community to talk, share the news, and buy goods.

For me, there is nothing quite like the sound of the door opening, the remembering of how the bell would tinkle as it was pushed open, and then… hearing the sound of the first step onto the creaky wooden floor. I remember as a little girl going to, Perry’s Ace Hardware, in the middle of Plain City, Ohio. and enjoying all those sounds.

When you walk into the End of the Commons, you will get those same feelings!

I believe, there is something distinctly valuable about keeping history alive and End of the Commons has done it.

End of the Commons Facebook

What you will find at End of the Commons General Store

When you at the general store you will find that the locals stop by to pick up household essentials and travelers visit for the retro penny candies, fry pies, and Amish meats and cheeses.

  • over 1,000 bulk food products
  • hard to find housewares
  • kitchen gadgets
  • homemade fudge
  • hand-dipped ice cream
  • over 150 varieties of old-fashioned soda & penny candy.

“We have many antiques over the years from the 1840s that didn’t sell or maybe were overbought,” says Schaden. “Back then, they didn’t throw anything away, they just kept storing it … We took all of those out and we have that merchandise hanging from the ceilings or displayed on top shelves.”

One of my favorite things here is the vintage items displayed throughout the store giving it the perfect historic feel it deserves.

What is a Fry Pie?

Let’s talk Fry Pies! What is a Fry Pie? These little bundles of deliciousness are small half-moon-shaped deep-fried pies. They can be filled with a variety of flavors and fillings.

You can pick your favorite…or two…or three…or 100! I promise you won’t stop at just one, you’ll want to try them all.

Today, there are few places that can evoke pleasant nostalgic memories among old-timers and young people, like that of the old-fashioned general store. Many will remember back to a time gone by, as they enter, their family shopping trips, penny candies, and the jovial conversation around the pot-belly stove in the winter, or sitting on the broad porch playing checkers in the summer.

Take a journey back into yesteryear and visit End of the Commons General Store and enjoy a slower pace in the quiet surroundings of Amish country.

Can’t make it to End of the Commons General Store? Shop online 

Where is the End of the Commons General Store?

4366 Kinsman Rd.

Mesopotamia, OH 44439

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