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general store

English translation: food+ general household goods

07:52 Jun 16, 2003
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary
English term or phrase: general store
My main query is: can 'general store' be a store selling food only, like 'a grocery store', or 'a supermarket', or is it rather a shop where one can buy a wide variety of goods, including for example nails, stationary, etc
Ensor
Local time: 03:29
Selected answer:food+ general household goods
Explanation:
I found this definition:

What is the definition of a General Store?
A general store is defined as a trade or business consisting wholly or mainly of the sale by retail of both food for human consumption (excluding confectionery) and general household goods.
http://www.northnorfolk.org/businessrates/default_840.asp

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-06-16 08:00:12 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

While one can quibble about the precise definition of a general store, Mr. Fleming said a few criteria have to be observed.

The store must carry a variety of merchandise, with a mix of foodstuffs, housewares and clothing.

It cannot occupy a large space, such as a department store, and is usually independently operated by a family.

As well, the stores tend to be mostly found in rural areas, away from the competition posed by supermarkets and strip malls.

http://www.yorkregion.com/yr/business/story/955659p-1142430c...
Selected response from:

Katherine Matles
Spain
Local time: 20:29
Grading comment
I would like to thank all for their contribution. Personally I found Katherine's explanation the best, though many comments offered by others were most elucidative. Thanks again!

Ensor
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +15a wide variety of goods, including for example nails, stationary, etc
Fuad Yahya
5 +4food+ general household goods
Katherine Matles
5 +3general store
Nia Foster
4 +3anything and everything
jerrie


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +15
a wide variety of goods, including for example nails, stationary, etc


Explanation:
A retail store, usually located in a rural community, that sells a wide variety of merchandise but is not divided into departments.


    American Heritage Dictionary
Fuad Yahya
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 893

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter: but isn't it station*e*ry?
2 mins
  -> Yes, it is. Thank you, Steffen.
agree  Sarah Ponting: It wouldn't be "general" if it sold just food (and it's definitely stationEry!!!)
4 mins
agree  JoeYeckley (X)
5 mins
agree  Layali (X)
52 mins
agree  J. Leo (X)
1 hr
agree  asusisu (X)
1 hr
agree  Alaa Zeineldine
1 hr
agree  Marie Scarano
1 hr
agree  DGK T-I
2 hrs
agree  airmailrpl
3 hrs
agree  RHELLER: originally sold anything from sugar to fabric
5 hrs
agree  Nancy Arrowsmith: historically, the ONLY store in rural communities
6 hrs
  -> I remember how excitment spread throughout the whole community whenver the "general store" brought in a new item that most of us have only heard of before, like a new soda pop or a new kind of lantern.
agree  Ino66 (X)
14 hrs
agree  Jana Teteris
1 day 2 hrs
agree  Therese Nichols
1 day 12 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
anything and everything


Explanation:
a little bit of anything and everything!

Just one example..see link:

A general store tries to cater for everything. I would say that they would have small selection of most things that they anticipate the customer to need.

Definitely not limited to just food items.


    Reference: http://www.mysticfudge.com/
jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 773

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  airmailrpl
3 hrs
agree  Christopher Crockett: Yes, though nails would be a bit of a stretch, these days. But, these days, the "general store" is a very endangered species.
6 hrs
agree  Ino66 (X)
14 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
food+ general household goods


Explanation:
I found this definition:

What is the definition of a General Store?
A general store is defined as a trade or business consisting wholly or mainly of the sale by retail of both food for human consumption (excluding confectionery) and general household goods.
http://www.northnorfolk.org/businessrates/default_840.asp

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-06-16 08:00:12 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

While one can quibble about the precise definition of a general store, Mr. Fleming said a few criteria have to be observed.

The store must carry a variety of merchandise, with a mix of foodstuffs, housewares and clothing.

It cannot occupy a large space, such as a department store, and is usually independently operated by a family.

As well, the stores tend to be mostly found in rural areas, away from the competition posed by supermarkets and strip malls.

http://www.yorkregion.com/yr/business/story/955659p-1142430c...

Katherine Matles
Spain
Local time: 20:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
I would like to thank all for their contribution. Personally I found Katherine's explanation the best, though many comments offered by others were most elucidative. Thanks again!

Ensor

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gayle Wallimann: good explanation
16 mins
agree  Anna Bittner
1 hr
agree  airmailrpl
3 hrs
agree  Ino66 (X)
14 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
general store


Explanation:
In the UK, at least, a general store is usually a small shop in a small village or community, where the people are not within close reach of larger supermarkets, etc. You can buy a selection of basic items such as milk, bread and some tinned foods perhaps, newpapers, sweets, cleaning products such as washing up liquid and surface cleaner, shampoo and soap, toilet rolls, pet food, etc. All the things you might run out of and can walk to the shop to get, without having to drive miles to the nearest supermarket.
In a more rural community the general store is often combined with the post office.

Nia Foster
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DGK T-I
2 hrs
agree  Armorel Young: yes, good description. Not many general stores would run to things like nails, but it's theoretically possible.
4 hrs
agree  Ino66 (X)
13 hrs
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