Long before the endless array of choices at malls and shopping centers, much of the Christmas shopping was done at General Stores. About two hours northeast of Knoxville just past the small community of Pall Mall, TN you will find one of these "ghosts of Christmas past."
The Forbus General Store opened for business near the end of the 19th century. In many ways the store hasn’t changed much except for a few addition and a few coats of paint. When you pull up to the store it is hard not to notice the group of large woodcarvings lined up outside. On occasion, you might also see a group of men doing some woodcarving themselves on the big wraparound porch.
Big wooden doors with creaky springs swing open and take you back in time. As soon as you enter the store it feels like you've just stepped off a time machine.The old shelves behind the counter are lined with history in the way of canned goods, soda bottles and knick knacks.
Behind the counter glass is one of the tastiest part of a visit here, a treat great for giving at Christmas. The Forbus General Store offers up about a half-a-dozen or more types of fudge. Just ask for a sample when you come in and they will be happy to oblige.
There are a few modern amenities inside, so don't expect this to be like your local Pilot or Weigel's store. Forbus deals mostly in the basics, so don’t expect to find much else on the shelves except a few souvenirs.
You can pick up some old-fashioned candy, a can of Ski, and a fried bologna sandwich while you're there. And if you aren’t in the mood for food you might check out the other thing Forbus is famous for, a card game called Pig. Now, Pig isn’t something you’ll find outside of these parts as this section of the Cumberland Plateau is one of the only places people actually play it.
The Forbus General Store is just a couple of miles up the road from the Sgt. Alvin C. York Historic Site and about 20 minutes from Jamestown, a story with ties to Mark Twain. The store is right on U.S. 127, a road famous for its yearly yard sale in August. To get to the Forbus General Store take I-40 west to Crossville, then head north on U.S. 127. Pall Mall and the Forbus General Store are about 45 minutes up the road.
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