Good Hart General Store In Michigan

Good Hart General Store

There are few things House Crazy Sarah loves to do more than traveling the backroads and finding little gems like this one.

Good Hart General Store

Nestled along Northern Michigan’s most scenic highway, M-119 (more famously known as The Tunnel of Trees), is the sleepy town of Good Hart.

Good Hart General Store

The “town” is not much more than a sparse smattering of rural provision businesses that service the surrounding cottage and resort residents. The hub of the area is the Good Hart General Store.

Good Hart General Store

For over 70 years, this distinctive red and white building has housed the U.S. Post Office and general grocery store. It also currently serves as the local bakery, deli, gift shop, and real estate office.

Good Hart General Store

The Good Hart General Store is famous for its homemade jams and preserves, sandwiches, whitefish pate, and signature hand-made “hart” pies.

Good Hart General Store

Imagine driving along the scenic Tunnel of Trees that meanders along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan and coming across this charming historic store.

Good Hart General Store

The current structure was built in 1934 by local Good Hart resident Cliff Powers. He operated it as a general grocer, butcher, and gas station until 1971 when Powers sold the business to current owner Carolyn (Woods) Sutherland who currently operates the grocery, bakery, deli, and post office with husband Jim Sutherland.

Good Hart General Store

In these old photos, you can see how the original roofline was a waved facade, rather than the straight-edged false front that adorns the building today.

Then:

Good Hart General Store

And Now:

Good Hart General Store

The highway through Good Hart is literally a one-lane country road so the General Store is a natural stopping point for tourists.

Good Hart General Store

Although the Tunnel of Trees and the town of Good Hart are favorite summertime and fall destinations, the store is open all year long.

Good Hart General Store

Indeed, the store/bakery fills orders of homemade baked goods, world-famous pot pies, and fresh jams and preserves year-round, getting a bump during the holiday season.

Good Hart General Store

It’s hard to pick a favorite season at the Good Hart General Store because it is so quaint in ANY season!

Good Hart General Store

It’s also fantastic that they are open in the winter because most of these niche tourists places close up shop after the busy summer months.

Let’s have a look inside…

Good Hart General Store

In the General Store, they pride themselves on being “old school”.

Good Hart General Store

To that end, many of the store’s original features remain intact such as the tinted front windows, the glass-front counter bins, the 1901 National Cash Register, and the carved oak “cooling case”.

Good Hart General Store

Good Hart General Store

Here’s a closer look at the original post office boxes:

Good Hart General Store

You can almost smell the home-baked goodness in these photos…

Good Hart General Store

An no country store would be complete without some doggo friends…

Good Hart General Store

Good Hart General Store

Here’s a peek inside the prep room where the pies are rolled and the goodies prepared:

Good Hart General Store

The store is also jam-packed with Good Hart merchandise.

Good Hart General Store

Good Hart General Store

Good Hart General Store

Who doesn’t love those old checkered floors?

The Good Hart General Store is a precious little artifact from rural Northern Michigan’s past that has been lovingly preserved by caring hands.

Good Hart General Store

Stop by and savor the feeling of time standing still.

Good Hart General Store

House Crazy Sarah is definitely heading that way once all this pandemic stuff is over!

Good Hart General Store in Michigan

For us rural, history & architecture-loving souls, this place is heaven on earth.

 

Sources:

https://www.goodhartstore.com/

https://www.facebook.com/goodhartstore/

https://www.michigan.org/property/good-hart-general-store

 

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