2016 September PASO Magazine

LOCAL GOODS REPORT
GENERAL STORE’S
NEW GIFT COUNTER:
GRAB-AND-GO GIVING FROM
LOADS OF LOCAL MAKERS
Giving is one of life’s simplest, most profound joys.
And one of our favorite things to do at General Store
Paso Robles is to help people piece together a gift that
says exactly what they want it to say: thank you, or I know
you miss Paso while you’re on deployment, or happy birthday,
or chemo is hard.
When we opened General Store, we hadn’t anticipated
what an intimate, fulfilling and creative job it can be,
helping people express themselves through the gifts they
choose. Three years later, we find we want more space to
create, more baskets to choose from, just...more.
So this September we will be opening the back of the
store up and, with a new footprint: We’ll have a dedicated
counter for creating gifts, large and small. (We’ll also have
more books and more useful things and more things for
guys and more blankets- just more store!)
The Gift Counter will offer an assortment of baskets and
crates for putting together local gifts, whether it’s a small
welcome gesture for a visiting client or the family traveling
to Paso for your wedding. We will continue to offer free
grosgrain ribbon and crinkle paper to fill out whatever container
you choose, and we’re happy to put it together for you
free of charge. (We might need you to grab a coffee while we
wrap it up if it’s busy, but that’s what Spearhead is for, right?!)
from
GENERAL STORE
PASO ROBLES
(One trend we’re seeing more is people skipping
the plastic wrap on gift baskets. Leaving the items
settled into the crinkle paper without the added
environmental impact of the plastic looks sweet and is
the greener choice.)
And if you are wondering what the most popular
local food gift would be? Hands down, it’s Paso Almonds.
And since we carry the Brittle Corn and Sweet Hots,
you can fill an entire bag with Paso Almond goodness!
What we’re most excited about is our ability to pull
together from nearly two dozen central coast makers
to create a truly local gift. Paso Almond Brittle, olive
oil from Olivos de Oro, our own herb blends and
custom lotions, Yes Artisan Cocktail Mixers, walnut
butter, Paso tea towels and handmade pottery magnets...
we continue to add to the list of offerings that are local
and one-of-a-kind. And at least twice a week we get
the jolt of energy that comes when someone drops off
the soap or pistachios or lip balm they’ve made for us.
(We’ve also been known to meet on the side of the road
to pick up products, or even recently for a handoff of
tomato jam at a local brewery. We might have had a
beer while waiting, It’s tough work.)
In the days of Amazon shopping, it shows when
what you give is something you can only get right here
in our town.
Come visit our new Gift Counter after September 1.
We can’t wait to share a little bit more General Store
with you!
The Team at General Store Paso Robles
52 PASO Magazine, September 2016