Mountain Brothers General Store: Coffee and Fried Pies in Wears Valley

About

Mountain Brothers General Store is the sort of place that makes Wears Valley feel like its own small world. Opened in 2010 by a family whose ties to the community go back many generations, it was designed to recapture the old family-operated general store, with creaky floors, a wide variety of goods and a certain quirkiness. It sits on the way toward the national park, Cades Cove and the Foothills Parkway, so it is an easy stop on a scenic drive.

Most visitors start with a cup of Mountain Bros. coffee, the store's own brew, or head for the sweet shop's hand-scooped ice cream, homemade fried pies, old-fashioned candy and fudge. Shelves hold jams and jellies, salsa, pickled vegetables, barbecue sauce, spreads, seasonings and mixes, along with candles, apparel, home decor and souvenirs. Look closely at the front counter: it came from an 1850s Colorado bar and still carries cigar burns and a hidden bell button.

The store is open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, with coffee starting at opening. It is family-friendly and quick to visit, and many of its packaged goods also sell through the online shop if you want a reorder once you are home. The family also operates Mtn Brothers Brewing Co. The store sits at 3204 Lyon Springs Road in Wears Valley, spelled Lines Spring Road on its own website; call (865) 429-5960 for directions or holiday hours.

Photo: Mountain Brothers General Store

Did You Know

• Mountain Brothers General Store opened in 2010 in Wears Valley (Mountain Brothers General Store).
• The front counter came from an 1850s Colorado bar and still shows cigar burns (Mountain Brothers General Store).
• The counter also hides a bell button once used during gunfights (Mountain Brothers General Store).
• The family also runs Mtn Brothers Brewing Co. (Mountain Brothers General Store).