Pickens General Store

Old-fashioned wares breathe new life into the heart of Heuvelton

The Amish know a little something about community involvement: Their barnraisings are legendary. So when this stone building that once housed Heuvelton’s newspaper, post office, opera house and more faced the wrecking ball, it’s fitting that a general store devoted to Amish products is the idea that helped save it. A large Amish population lives in the community; the store, which sells Amish-made furniture, toys, quilts, candles and other non-electrical products, was launched as a way to raise enough money to preserve the building.

At a glance
  • The cheddar cheese curds get rave reviews
  • Hats from the general store were seen on a 2012 episode of Saturday Night Live
  • Twin sisters Jessie & Bessie Pickens, known as the Abott Sisters, became world-famous opera stars – and performed in the third-floor opera house