North Conway’s ZEB’S GENERAL STORE

Stepping into Zeb’s General Store in North Conway, NH, is like diving headfirst into a whirlwind of nostalgia and sensory overload. The moment I stepped onto the old-timey front porch with a friendly, full-sized stuffed black bear (stuffed like a toy, not stuffed like taxidermy) and crossed the threshold, I was engulfed by a sea of sights, sounds, and smells.

Every inch of the store seemed crammed full, with one thing after another to look at, imagine having, and often shoving into a basket.

Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by shelves brimming with local goods like maple syrup and pickled eggs. The local aspect is big all throughout Zeb’s, the jars and bottles had “Made In New Hampshire” proudly emblazoned upon them. Of course, not everything is New Hampshire, but practically everything is New England.

Bottles and jugs of maple syrup and boxes of maple candies always  gets my attention, so the folks who figured out the store layout had me in mind, putting the maple syrup with their charming labels, with their promise of the rich, sweet taste of New England instantly put me in the mood to stuff my basket full.

I could almost picture the process of tapping maple trees in the early spring, the cold nights and warm days causing the sap to flow. The sap is collected in buckets hanging from spiles driven into the trees. Once gathered, the sap is boiled down in large evaporators, the steam rising in sweet clouds, until it transforms into the golden syrup that New England is famous for.

Among the locally-canned delights, I found local honey, jars of jellies, pickled eggs, and pickled garden produce. Beets, cauliflower, beans… If it can be shoved into a jar, it seemed to be here.

One standout item was the Polly’s Pancake Parlor Pancake Mix. This mix, from a beloved New Hampshire establishment, promises fluffy, delicious pancakes that bring a taste of the White Mountains to your breakfast table.

Just a little farther on, I found mixes and dry goods, including pasta shaped like New Hampshire (or Vermont, if you eat it upside down). There were also BBQ sauces, marinades, mustards, and jars of wild blueberry preserves that made me think of lazy Sunday mornings.

Passing Zeb, a talking life-size version of him at least, I couldn’t help but chuckle at his animated welcome. His voice, a friendly down-east accent, added to the store’s whimsical charm.

Zeb’s eyes don’t actually twinkle as he speaks, but his voice and tone would have made it easy to imagine.

His mouth moves in sync with his words, offering a hearty welcome and humorous anecdotes about the store and its history.

Named after Zebulon Northrop Tilton, a legendary schooner captain known for his strength and charisma, this figure adds a touch of local folklore to the shopping experience1.

Further still, I encountered an array of handcrafted soaps and candles. The scents of lavender, pine, and peppermint mingled in the air, creating a fragrant symphony. I picked up a bar of balsam fir soap, its earthy scent transporting me to a forest in the heart of winter.

The candles, each one hand-poured, came in scents like “Mountain Mist” and “Autumn Leaves,” evoking the natural beauty of New England.

Swinging around the back, a row of refrigerator displays caught my eye. They contained Moxie, a chocolate-flavored soda concoction with a unique bitter aftertaste, and Zeb’s own bottled soft drinks like root beer and fruit-flavored sodas.

Moxie has a devoted following in New England where it is a beloved regional icon, stemming from its origin in 1876 as a patent medicine called “Moxie Nerve Food”.

I next encountered an old soda fountain counter, a relic from a bygone era. The polished marble and gleaming chrome evoked images of a time when soda fountains were the social hubs of small towns. I imagined the soda jerk, deftly mixing syrups and carbonated water, serving up frothy root beer floats and creamy milkshakes. The soda fountain was a place where people gathered, shared stories, and created memories. The soda fountain was now a display, not serving fizzy delights, but I still took advantage of the chance to sit for a moment and look at the rest of the store’s decor.

The store is adorned with antique advertising signs and artifacts from earlier ages. Vintage posters for products like Coca-Cola and Old Dutch Cleanser hang on the walls, while old wooden crates and glass jars are scattered throughout the store. These items, relics of a bygone era, add to the store’s nostalgic ambiance.

Circling back toward the front, I found more gifts and old- fashioned toys. The shelves were lined with wooden trains, tin robots, and other nostalgic wonders. There were also hand-knit mittens and scarves, each one a cozy reminder of winter’s chill. Guarding the stairs was Zeb again, ensuring no one missed the treasures above.

Up the wooden stairs, I found toys and t-shirts, each item a little piece of nostalgia. There were classic board games like “Candy Land” and “Chutes and Ladders,” vintage-style t-shirts featuring local landmarks, and even more toys that brought back memories of simpler times. The second floor also housed a collection of New England-themed apparel, including flannel shirts and cozy socks.

Back downstairs, I passed the pickle barrel on my way to the checkout.

The candy counter was a riot of colors, filled with old-fashioned candies and irresistible fudge. I couldn’t resist grabbing a few pieces of fudge, each one promising a sweet trip down memory lane. The counter also featured Zeb’s own line of candies, including chocolate-covered pretzels and caramel popcorn.

Finally, I stepped outside with my treasures, pausing to get a selfie with the huge stuffed black bear on the old-timey porch.

Zeb’s General Store, which opened in 1991, is a chaotic, delightful experience, one that left me with a sense of wonder and a deeper appreciation for the charm of this old-fashioned general store.

With over 5,000 unique products, the building itself, with its wooden floors and antique fixtures, felt like a step back in time, a place where the past and present coexist in a delightful jumble.

For more information www.zebs.com