The Middle-Of-Nowhere General Store With Some Of The Best Pies In New Jersey
By Meghan Byers|Published June 25, 2022
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Meghan Byers
Author
A New Jersey native, Meghan is passionate about travel and enjoys finding off-the-beaten path destinations. You're most likely to find her at a coffee shop, or hitting the trails with her dogs. She graduated with a creative writing degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been writing professionally for over a decade.
Sussex County is part of what makes New Jersey “The Garden State,” with its rolling hills and forested mountains, acres of farmland and bucolic lakeside towns. It’s also the site of the New Jersey State Fair, where Hainesville General Store has won the blue ribbon five years in a row for its carefully handcrafted pies. But this old-fashioned Sussex County general store is more than just the purveyor of some of the best pies in New Jersey.
Located in Sandyston, not far from the Sussex County Sunflower Maze, the Hainesville General Store has been in operation for almost 140 years. It opened its doors in 1883 and has been owned by five different families over the years, always remaining true to its roots and serving the local community first and foremost.
The Hainesville General Store sells groceries, antiques, and more, but it’s most famous for its fruit pies, which took first place at the NJ State Fair each year from 2015 to 2019. The award-winning pies are made with hand-rolled dough and a variety of fresh fruit fillings, including apple, berry, cherry, and peach.
If you’re looking for something savory, stop by the deli counter for a specialty sandwich, wrap, melt, or sub, made with Boar’s Head and Thumann’s meat and cheeses.
Good, old-fashioned comfort food is always on the menu, from classic mac n’ cheese to the quiche of the week. You can buy quiche by the slice, or take the whole thing home to share (or not).
Whatever you order, the inviting front porch beckons you to stop and stay for a while to enjoy your food. There’s counter seating inside for eating in, too.
But if you’re in a hurry, you can always choose from the variety of grab-and-go items available up at the counter. From parfaits to salads and more, it’s all prepared with care and a homemade touch.