Without them, it may be just another store trying to find its place.

Walk in on any day and see owner Jackie Francis and her staff greet customers by their names — that’s customer service.

Sometimes they come in for one item and leave with many more.

“The uniqueness (of the store) is in the staff and the customers. We’re a whole pile of wonderful characters that blend together to create this welcoming atmosphere,” Francis said.

The Ashville General Store, Route 474 in Ashville. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Just look at the menus — blue for breakfast and pink for lunch and dinner — and you are bound to find something that will fit your dietary needs including subs with different spelled names, like the “Eyetalian (Italian) Super Sub,” “Slyng (sling) Shot,” or “Hippy (Hippie) Chic.” The store was named winner in Best Convenience Store/Gas Station category and was named a top finalist for Best Sub Place in the 2022 Chautauqua County Best of the Best contest sponsored by The Post-Journal and the Dunkirk OBSERVER.

Francis said the repeat customers have grown up with the store being in their lives.

“A lot of the customers are like grand babies, so to speak of the store. So they’ve been coming here all their lives. And this is where they get their favorite stuff,” Francis added.

There is no typical day at the store. All are different, Francis said.

The day begins before the store opens with food prepping, and when it opens at 7 a.m., the meeting and greeting of customers begins.

Ashville General Store owner Jackie Francis stands near the store’s coffee bar. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Francis said she also saves time for “coffeeing” or drinking coffee with the customers.

Francis will be the first to say that the store doesn’t follow any trends.

“We are the trendsetter, so we’re not keeping up with any trends. We create the trends,” Francis noted.

Formerly an Agway store on Route 474 in Ashville, Ashville General Store opened in 1991. The building housing the store was originally built in 1917 and was known as Ashville electric Mill and later as Great Lakes Feed Mill, and Agway. Francis is a native of Ashville said when the store came up for sale, she knew right away she wanted to buy it. She knew she could sell food, antiques and collectibles. It has been a mainstay ever since.

The store is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday through Thursday from Nov. 1 to April 30. From May 1 to Oct. 31, the hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the store is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“Good food. Fun candy,” is how the customers remember Ashville General Store, Francis said.

For more information visit ashvillegeneral.com