The decor draws you in, an authentic mix of antiques, art, and memorabilia reflecting southeastern North Carolina history, beautifully arranged, as if in a gallery, by owner Patrick Leclair. Never mind the name; this isn’t your grandpa’s general store.
Patrick left his career overseeing the decor of a national chain of high-end clothing stores to move to Fayetteville and open Leclair’s, tucked in the heart of the Haymount neighborhood.
It’s “general” because the handmade pottery is displayed near the pastries; leafy plants fill colorful handwoven baskets; live-edge walnut charcuterie boards hang from hooks; and Pendleton blankets are folded over vintage trunks that sit beside a display of metal ammo boxes filled with locally sourced salves, soaps, and salsas.
And, like general stores of the past, Leclair’s has become a favorite place to while away the hours.
Patrons sip hot coffee and nitro cold brew as they scroll and type and turn pages at picnic tables and in repurposed pews. Later, they’ll rehang their mugs on a wall with dozens more, each belonging to a returning customer who can’t resist this mercantile for the modern age.
Leclair’s General Store
1212 Fort Bragg Road
Fayetteville, NC 28305
(910) 491-1060
leclairsgeneralstore.com
In North Carolina, spring brings the scent of fresh-cut grass and memories of helping Dad mow the lawn.
Nostalgic burger joints are like time machines, delivering something extra special that keeps us coming back.
This tiny city block in downtown Greensboro once had a gigantic reputation. Not so much for its charbroiled beef patties — though they, too, were plentiful — but for its colorful characters and their wild shenanigans.
In the 1950s, as Americans hit freshly paved roads in shiny new cars during the postwar boom, a new kind of restaurant took shape: the drive-in. From those first thin patties to the elaborate gourmet hamburgers of today, North Carolina has spent the past 80 years making burger history.
