BUSINESS

Historic Shawnee General Store to reopen following COVID closure

Maria Francis
Pocono Record
Shawnee General Store, in the days when more wooden utility poles populated the streets than did people.

The Shawnee General Store has withstood the tests of time, even a global pandemic. 

After temporarily closing due to COVID-19, the general store in Shawnee on Delaware is planning a grand reopening in October, with a few changes— like a fresh outdoor space and an area for wine tasting.

“I’ve gone through lots of ups and downs over the years, and I recognize when it’s time to problem solve,” said owner Theresa Rooth. “When we were all closed due to COVID, I realized my problem solving was prioritizing to take care of my youngest of three daughters, Charlotte, (who) was in second grade at the time.”

Rooth felt fortunate to have the ability to close the store she’d owned since 1999, located at 542 River Road, to concentrate on taking care of her youngest, who was home for cyber school during the pandemic. 

She said while taking the break wasn’t easy, she enjoyed the quiet time, "to step back, do some gardening and enjoy the time with her children" — that is, until the phone started ringing off the hook with people asking when she’d reopen or if she was interested in selling the store. 

“I did consider selling… but in the end, I just wasn’t ready to let go of it,” Rooth said.  I realized I missed the store and I missed working.  The store is a part of me and a part of history.”

Shawnee General Store and Renegade Winery will celebrate the store's grand reopening in October.

“I spent all of my summers growing up here in my family’s home built by my great-grandparents in 1913,” Rooth recalled. “So I have a really strong connection and memories of Shawnee. I moved into the area as a teenager while attending Blair Academy.”

Rooth left to attend Boston University and again returned to Shawnee after college to work for Aventis in Swiftwater (now Sanofi Pasteur) as a clinical research assistant. 

“I had this corporate job, but I think I always imagined that I’d have my own business; I think it was in the back of my head but I never said it out loud, but I was always sort of looking,” Rooth said. “I liked the idea of having a business where I could have a family," 

Rooth was driving home one day when she saw the for-sale sign at the Shawnee General Store, and "fell in love" with the idea of owning it. 

Rooth jumped in with both feet and bought the store she already loved. 

She laughed as she described working in the store during her first pregnancy and customers asking when the baby was due, and one day, she replied “I’m due today” as she made their sandwiches. 

“I worked really, really hard for a long time to build the vision of this store because I cared so much about it— it was more than just a business." Rooth said. "When people walked in, I treated them like they were my friends. So too were the people that have worked for me, they mean a lot to me.”

Story continues after gallery. 

The Shawnee General Store has operated as a general store since 1859, opening under John Depuy Labar and his son-in-law, George Heller. It has since undergone few changes over the years under different ownership.

“When I was a kid, there was a post office in here and then in the 80s they added the deli café,” Rooth said.

“As far as the store, I still sell local honey, maple syrup, apple butters and all kinds of souvenirs,” said Rooth. “I've always been sort of known for having great quality T-shirts, baseball caps and other apparel.  Even the locals come in for our shirts and necessities, like a loaf of bread or gallon of milk.  So these are some of the things I need to keep on the shelves for the General Store feel.  

Just before COVID, Roth decided to rent space to longtime customer Britt Detrick. Detrick came in everyday for a bacon, egg and "extra cheese" sandwich. 

Local favorite Renegade Winery has rented space from the Shawnee General Store to provide a tasting room experience for customers. The winery is selling some of its most popular wines, which will also be featured on the general store's upcoming brunch menu.

Detrick's plans were to use the space for a satellite wine-tasting shop.

Detrick and wife Amanda are the owners of Renegade Winery on Main Street in Stroudsburg. The new satellite wine tasting shop is now located in the main part of the store.

Shawnee General Store with Renegade Winery are planning a grand opening for Columbus Day Weekend, October 9-10, complete with live music from noon to 3 p.m., fall-themed sangria in the winery section, free pumpkins and other outdoor activities. 

“Not only is Britt great at making wine, he’s also really great at building just about anything,” Rooth said. “We are working to get the store back to where it was before and give it some new energy. (The Detricks have) proven that they care about the history of the area.”

Renegade Winery its celebrating its fifth birthday this November, and the Detricks were excited to be able to rent space from the Shawnee General Store and expand, noting that the venture has been going "really well." 

“We are an urban winery concept, so we don’t have a vineyard,” Amanda said. “We have all our fruit brought in from California and Washington and we make wine really well, but we don't grow it." 

Rooth wants to keep the feel of the general store and retain its original character citing how important it is to the community. 

Shawnee General Store and Renegade Winery outdoor seating area on the creek

“It’s important to a lot of my customers and people that vacation here every year.” She said. At the same time, she wants to offer something fun, like an experience such as the wine tastings.

The café-deli, known for its breakfast sandwiches and lunch, will soon offer a seasonal Sunday brunch menu— complete with drink pairings from Renegade, like a Bloody Mary with the winery's famous jalapeño wine. The general store also serves Shawnee Craft Brewery beers from nearby Shawnee Inn. 

The new brunch menu premiers 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 10 for the grand opening weekend. Pumpkin pancakes and cranberry wine spritzers will be served until 3 p.m.

In addition to expanded seating throughout the 900-square foot store, that seats up to 25 people, there is now a whole new outdoor dining experience. 

Over 20 Adirondack chairs and picnic tables have been set up outside, on a grassy, creek-side area located behind the store. There are fire pits with even more seating, including the front porch. A bonfire will be lit for customers to enjoy Saturday Oct. 9, and will be kept burning until 9 p.m. 

“We are lucky to be in such a beautiful spot where people come by for breakfast or lunch,” Rooth said. “People can bring their pets and blankets to sit out on the grass and enjoy the scenery while enjoying a drink or a bite.”

Pumpkins on sale just in time for fall at the Shawnee General Store in Shawnee on Delaware.

Detrick noted that the COVID pandemic has inspired a new love in people for the outdoors, and that the general store's outdoor area is "such a great addition for visitors." 

"We love being here and the energy of Shawnee," he said. "Stroudsburg and Main Street is such a different thing compared to this— it’s slower, more personable and we really missed that aspect."