Downtown Johnson City is home to a brand new general store boasting tons of unique local products and a designated space for vendor based retail.
The Generalist is run by Bradley and Lora Eshbach, a husband and wife team who have waited upwards of two years to make the idea of their store become a reality.
“We’ve always been thinking about what we can do to invest in this community,” said Lora Eshbach.
Located at 248 E Main St., The Generalist officially opened on Saturday, Aug. 27, and is arranged into two different sections: one for the general store and its products, and another space that the Eshbachs have rented for local vendors, makers and curators to display and sell their products.
Altogether, The Generalist works with almost 40 local vendors, meaning that the money spent here goes directly back into the community and funds the local makers, artists and curators that enrich it.
Working with local vendors ensures that The Generalist has products and brands that cannot easily be found at big-box stores, like Walmart and Target.
This factor adds to the intrigue that has led many customers through the doors of The Generalist.
“It’s a place to find a lot of curiosities to explore,” said Lora Eshbach.
Bradley Eshbach shares that the choice of downtown Johnson City to house The Generalist was very intentional.
“I think that downtown Johnson City is the most thriving, interesting, fun part of Johnson City,” Bradley Eshbach said. “There just is no other part of Johnson City that feels like downtown.”
Bradley Eshbach also mentioned that putting a general store in downtown Johnson City is very reminiscent of its history, as the original business in Johnson City was a general store about half a block from the location of The Generalist.
The Eshbachs have big plans in store for the future of The Generalist. Among these are the launch of their website and online store and completion of a shipping office and event space.
They plan to utilize their platform to assist local vendors in moving their products to an online marketplace.
“A big part of this business model is to help local vendors and artists and makers get their things online,” said Lora Eshbach.
With the completion of the event space, The Generalist will be able to host snack and drink nights featuring local products available at the store, as well as pop-ups, galleries and workshops.
“So many artists don’t think of themselves as businesses or as artists even, so I really love the idea of having a space where I can let the people in our community… come and experiment,” said Lora Eshbach.
For shoppers, The Generalist aims to become a place where you can get everything you need, which is why the Eshbach’s offer a suggestion box.
“The big part of a general store is helping people find the things they need,” said Lora Eshbach.
“If we don’t have something you need, tell us [and] we will work our best to get it,” said Bradley Eshbach.
The Generalist is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is a must-see for locals or anyone coming through the Johnson City area.
To stay connected with The Generalist, follow them on Instagram: @thegeneralist.store and visit their website to sign up for email newsletters: thegeneralist.store
You must be logged in to post a comment.