It’s Time to Say Thanks By Julie Farthing
Stonewalls, Fred’s Mercantile, and Mast General Store advertisements in the very first issue of CML, spring/summer 1997.
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or 25 years, CML has appeared on magazine stands in and around the small towns of western North Carolina. The longevity of CML would not be possible without the support of local businesses, several of which have been with us from the very beginning. Now it is time to give accolades to the folks who help keep CML “absolutely priceless.” One of those businesses is The Original Mast General Store, which opened in 1883 in the rural community of Valle Crucis, and was known to offer everything from cradles to caskets. Formerly the Taylor and Mast Store, the name was changed in 1913 to the Mast General Store when Mast became sole owner. In 1973, the store was added to the National Register of Historic Places where it is noted as one of the best remaining examples of an old country general store. The Mast family sold the store shortly afterwards, but the new owners closed its doors in the winter of 1977. After hearing the store was for sale, John and Faye Cooper purchased the historic building and worked with long-time vendors to add items to the store’s inventory that would be important to the community and would have been found on the store’s shelves in the past. The store reopened on June 6, 1980. With an eye toward historic preservation and a knack for commerce, the Mast General Store once again became the center of the Valle Crucis community, offering, in addition to provisions, a Post Office and a good place to grab a five-cent cup of coffee.
30 — Spring 2022 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Today as you traverse the historic store’s creaking floorboards, you’ll find country gourmet foods, cast iron cookware, speckleware, old-fashioned toys, footwear for all “walks” of life, hardware, candles, clothing, and so much more. Sheri Moretz, who has worked at Mast General Store for 28 years, holds the title of “storyteller.” She says that countless numbers of people, from “the farmer to the famous,” have strolled through the stores that now total 11 in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. “The newest Mast General Store in Roanoke, Virginia, opened in June 2020 and is located in the old Thurman and Boone furniture store,” says Moretz. She credits Marketing Director Jeff Meadows for finding the perfect location for each store. She calls him the “store whisperer.” “He listens to a building and sees the beauty behind the dust and debris,” says Moretz of Meadows. “The overall goal of the organization is finding the magic in each individual store and community. Sometimes you lose sight of that if you grow too fast; that’s why it’s important to understand the connection between each store and the community it serves.” John and Faye Cooper have given the reins of “minding the store” to their daughter, Lisa Cooper, who is now the president of the growing family of stores. John and Faye are continuing to serve their local community as volunteers and leaders in organizations such as An Appalachian Summer Festival, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Boone Sunrise Rotary, Western Youth Network, The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, and Hospitality House, and in
the recent revitalization of the Appalachian Theater of the High Country. Another CML-supporting business is Stonewalls Restaurant in Banner Elk. Stonewalls has been a downtown destination for premier steaks since 1985. Avery County native Scott Garland and his business partner, Tim Heschke, have been owners since 2016 and have been making improvements to the interior and exterior, including the new covered patio for dining al fresco and the gas fire pit for those cool mountain evenings. Although Garland and Heschke have updated the menu, the restaurant’s steak selection, along with its legendary salad bar, have stayed true to the classic Stonewalls menu. “I actually came to Stonewalls for my senior prom in 1986,” Garland recalls with a laugh. As a local, Garland knows the importance of supporting the High Country; thus, the restaurant utilizes ingredients from local farmers’ markets whenever possible and most of the items on the menu are made in-house. “Tim makes everything in-house for desserts,’’ says Garland. The key lime pie, red velvet cheesecake and cobbler are just a few of the favorites. Stonewalls also takes sustainability very seriously. “We are the first ones in the area to bring in keg wines, where it comes in kegs like beer. It’s more environmentally friendly… you save on bottling, plus kegs save on storage and the wine is the way it’s supposed to be at every pour.” Stonewalls currently has four wines on tap. “[Kegged wine] is never exposed to oxygen so you get it as the winemaker intended,” adds Garland.
