Long before Bashas’, Sprouts, and Target became our go-to shopping locations, many Arizonans purchased whatever food and supplies they couldn’t grow from general stores and trading posts. Plenty of these buildings are still standing and many still operate in their original form. Check out ten of these stores.
Please note, Hubbell Trading Post is temporarily closed.
- Cameron Trading Post, Cameron
Graham C99/Flickr This trading post has been operating since 1916 and not only serves its local community but also Grand Canyon visitors (which is about 30 minutes away.) It now has a small motel and restaurant on the premises to attract visitors.
- Canyon Market General Store, Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr If you’re taking a trip to the Grand Canyon and staying along the South Rim, you may restock on your supplies from the general store located a short distance from the visitor’s center. The store is pretty comprehensive and is sure to keep in stock whatever supplies you forgot to bring.
- Crown King General Store, Crown King
Joe Abbruscato/Flickr
Chanel Wheeler/Flickr Operating continuously since 1904, the Crown King General Store not only sells groceries for locals and gifts for visitors but it also has a post office inside. As you can tell from the photos, it still has that old-timey feel that’s difficult to find elsewhere.
- The Gap Trading Post, Gap
Cleber Mori/Flickr If you’re looking for your mid-priced polos and jeans, you may be in the wrong place. The Gap Trading Post is a stone building that still provides basic groceries and supplies for its rural residents of the Navajo Nation, as well as gifts for visitors passing through.
- Hackberry General Store, Hackberry
Alex Proimos/Flickr Located in the tiny town of Hackberry along the Historic Route 66, this general store now operates as a Route 66 museum and gift shop. At one point, it provided all the grocery needs of the mining town, especially when the 28-mile commute to Kingman used to take an entire day or two, depending on your mode of transportation.
mlhradio/Flickr An old delivery truck at the general store.
- Hubbell Trading Post, Ganado
Woody Hibbard/Flickr
Jacqueline Poggi/Flickr This historic site still operates in the same way it did when it opened in 1876 with groceries and other supplies in stock. Like most trading posts in the area, it also features Navajo arts and crafts for sale. If you plan your trip right, you may also get to see a weaving demonstration.
- Mt. Lemmon General Store, Mt. Lemmon
Alan English/Flickr General stores have operated off and on in various locations since the 1940s in the Mt. Lemmon area but this became a permanent location in the late 1980s. In 2003, a wildfire threatened that status as the general store was burned and needed to be rebuilt. While the store sells groceries and gifts, its prime sales item is fudge.
- Oatman General Store, Oatman
Corey Taratuta/Flickr One of the many attractions at this ghost town, this store is more than 100 years old and now operates as a gift shop.
- Pearce General Store, Pearce
dedhed1950/Flickr This general store first opened in 1896, a few short years after gold was discovered nearby. Due to its age, the store is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and currently operates as a tourist shop.
- Shonto Trading Post, Shonto
AndreaIsAndrea/Flickr Please note, Shonto Trading Post is no longer in business. This small trading post has been operating in Shonto Canyon since 1915. However, when the store was first built, it operated in a small tent when supplies had to be delivered by wagon.
What other general stores and trading posts would you recommend visiting? Let us know in the comments.
Graham C99/Flickr
This trading post has been operating since 1916 and not only serves its local community but also Grand Canyon visitors (which is about 30 minutes away.) It now has a small motel and restaurant on the premises to attract visitors.
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr
If you’re taking a trip to the Grand Canyon and staying along the South Rim, you may restock on your supplies from the general store located a short distance from the visitor’s center. The store is pretty comprehensive and is sure to keep in stock whatever supplies you forgot to bring.
Joe Abbruscato/Flickr
Chanel Wheeler/Flickr
Operating continuously since 1904, the Crown King General Store not only sells groceries for locals and gifts for visitors but it also has a post office inside. As you can tell from the photos, it still has that old-timey feel that’s difficult to find elsewhere.
Cleber Mori/Flickr
If you’re looking for your mid-priced polos and jeans, you may be in the wrong place. The Gap Trading Post is a stone building that still provides basic groceries and supplies for its rural residents of the Navajo Nation, as well as gifts for visitors passing through.
Alex Proimos/Flickr
Located in the tiny town of Hackberry along the Historic Route 66, this general store now operates as a Route 66 museum and gift shop. At one point, it provided all the grocery needs of the mining town, especially when the 28-mile commute to Kingman used to take an entire day or two, depending on your mode of transportation.
mlhradio/Flickr
An old delivery truck at the general store.
Woody Hibbard/Flickr
Jacqueline Poggi/Flickr
This historic site still operates in the same way it did when it opened in 1876 with groceries and other supplies in stock. Like most trading posts in the area, it also features Navajo arts and crafts for sale. If you plan your trip right, you may also get to see a weaving demonstration.
Alan English/Flickr
General stores have operated off and on in various locations since the 1940s in the Mt. Lemmon area but this became a permanent location in the late 1980s. In 2003, a wildfire threatened that status as the general store was burned and needed to be rebuilt. While the store sells groceries and gifts, its prime sales item is fudge.
Corey Taratuta/Flickr
One of the many attractions at this ghost town, this store is more than 100 years old and now operates as a gift shop.
dedhed1950/Flickr
This general store first opened in 1896, a few short years after gold was discovered nearby. Due to its age, the store is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and currently operates as a tourist shop.
AndreaIsAndrea/Flickr
Please note, Shonto Trading Post is no longer in business. This small trading post has been operating in Shonto Canyon since 1915. However, when the store was first built, it operated in a small tent when supplies had to be delivered by wagon.
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