April 13, 1991, was a big day for Waynesville and the Mast General Store. As the doors swung open, so started a journey for the town and for the Store that is filled with long-term relationships and maybe a little bit of magic. This year, Mast Store celebrates being a part of the Waynesville community for 30 years.

When you go to your local downtown, do you ever stop to think of the events that transpired there? Downtowns are gathering places, the heart of the community, and where history happens and can be observed in the small events of every day. Let’s take a look at the interesting history of the Mast Store’s building in Winston-Salem.

The winter months are not just for curling up with a good book in front a crackling fire. They are great for hitting the trails. Your favorite trails will show you new views. It’s a great time to discover new trails, too, when there aren’t as many hikers out and about. Here are a few of our favorite winter hiking spots that make us say, “Don’t hibernate, getting outside in the winter is great!” 

“The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.” You may be acquainted with this quote that is widely – and inaccurately - attributed to Mark Twain. Apparently, it is also being used in reference to some locations of the Mast Store. Well, we are here to report that the rumors of our closing and going out of business are, indeed, greatly exaggerated. 

Which came first – Valentine's Day or chocolate? And why is chocolate such a popular gift on Valentine's Day? Candy, and chocolate, in particular, is so popular that purchases of chocolate total over 58 million pounds during Valentine's week alone. Now that's A LOT of chocolate!

Five weeks of winter in the books and seven more to go. Longer nights, cold temperatures, and gray days all figure into a general feeling of sadness and depression. But, there are steps you can take to reduce its effects. Here are five ways to escape the winter blues.

Here we are about to put another year in the books. How can 365 days pass by so quickly? Wait, we're referring to 2020; it couldn't pass fast enough! With the New Year just hours away, it's time to take steps toward a year filled with good luck.  

When Mast Store’s newest old location opened its doors in Winston-Salem in May of 2015, we had the pleasure of meeting a woman with close ties to 516 North Trade Street. Her father worked in the building that boasted one of the largest retail and wholesale companies in the South: Brown-Rogers-Dixson (B-R-D). Originally posted 12/2/2015

It’s plain to see. This year’s Thanksgiving is going to be very different. Family gatherings are being discouraged, and if you are getting together, it is recommended that meals be enjoyed outside. With resolve and creativity, we can find small things to be thankful for and make this Thanksgiving memorable.

You've mastered being a teacher. Now it's time to pick up a different mantle – camp counselor. Whether you're “hosting” a day camp, overnight camp, or just a weekend experience camp, this blog has ideas for “programming” to keep your campers engaged and happy.

On a cool spring day in 1980, April 30 to be exact, a young family arrived in the mountains of North Carolina. After a long drive from Florida in a UHaul and a pickup truck, they were about to begin their lives' work in an old general store. In this short video blog, you'll hear what their first impressions in Faye's own words.  

Who's ready for another diversion or two? By now, our new routines are, well, routine. Get up, make coffee, fix breakfast, send the students to school in one corner of the living room, and set up the office on the kitchen table. This week's Boredom Busters will revisit a skill that many of us have let slip in the days of GPS, offer up a few podcasts, and send a jigsaw puzzle or two your way.

Back 40 years ago, you couldn't grab a bite to eat in the Valle. It meant a drive to Boone or to Banner Elk or to Mountain City over in Tennessee. That is until John and Faye Cooper decided to open the Mast Store Deli. Sandwiches and soups were served in the back of the store. Here's a little of that story, including a bit of it in Faye's own words.

What were you doing 40 years ago? The year was 1980, and the country was in the middle of the hostage crisis in Iran, facing a recession, and trying to solve the mystery of who shot J. R. Ewing. That’s the big picture, but what was happening in Valle Crucis, NC? Maybe it was a little magic. We’re stepping into our time machine and turning back the clock for a look at the rebirth of the Mast General Store. 

We hope everyone enjoyed a little yoga, fixed a nice extra special meal one night, and then threw down at a big dance party. We are all wearing lots of hats these days – from small business CEO and the school's head master to the top chef and building custodian. That means its even more challenging to get everything done and to have a little spare time for fun. This week we have a few more suggestions to shake up your stay-at-home routine with activities and a movie night.