Located at a crossroads in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Davoll’s General Store has been serving the community since 1793, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the United States. Founded during George Washington’s second presidential term, the store has evolved from a traditional rural supply outlet into a multifunctional gathering place that caters to locals, weekend residents, and tourists alike.

Since its inception, Davoll’s has undergone ownership changes, totaling 13 proprietors to date. The current owners are brothers Ben and Will Shattuck. Ben, a writer who spends most of the year in Brooklyn with his wife, actress and comedian Jenny Slate, and their young daughter, maintains deep familial roots in the South Dartmouth area, tracing back five generations. The brothers acquired the store during the COVID-19 pandemic after discussions with the previous owners, Jim Chouinard and Kim Arruda, who had modernized the establishment by adding a café.

Davoll’s retains its identity as a general store but has adapted to present-day values and consumer preferences. The selection excludes common processed snacks and sugary sodas, instead emphasizing locally sourced, grass-fed beef from Jordan Farm nearby, glass and reusable bottles instead of plastic, and environmentally conscious products. The store offers a range of items, from garden tools and kitchen essentials to local honey and affordable flowers. Meals at the café are reasonably priced, helping the store remain accessible to the local economy.

Beyond retail, Davoll’s functions as a community hub. It hosts monthly book clubs, author events with figures like Nathaniel Philbrick, knitting circles, Irish music sessions, and annual celebrations such as Burns Night in honor of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. These activities reflect the store’s shift from a strictly commercial enterprise to a social gathering space, a development appreciated by longtime residents.

Historically, Davoll’s catered primarily to local farmers and rural families and featured a post office and even a tailor on its upper floor. The surrounding community has transformed over time; large dairy farms have largely faded, replaced by a mix of arts-oriented residents and conservation efforts, including land donations to the Lloyd Center for the Environment made by members of the Shattuck family in the late 1970s.

Despite the store’s new chapters, the current proprietors and customers emphasize the importance of preserving its timeless character. Ben Shattuck expressed concern about small businesses facing challenges from corporate chain stores and online shopping but emphasized that the New England general store is “not old-fashioned, it’s timeless.” He is careful to avoid turning Davoll’s into a nostalgic or trendy destination for social media, instead aligning its offerings and atmosphere to suit the local community’s needs and traditions.

The store remains open six days a week throughout the year, even in winter’s quieter months. Shattuck has enlisted Mary Ann Buckley, a lifelong area resident with experience in organic markets and cafés, to manage day-to-day operations. While Buckley handles much of the store’s routine, the Shattucks stay involved with everything from product selection to facility maintenance.

Longtime patrons recall stories of earlier proprietors’ frugality and directness, recalling times when the store’s phone call cost 10 cents or when employees would simply tell customers if an item was not in stock without much fanfare. Today, Davoll’s continues to foster a sense of connection among the community, blending history with contemporary rural life. On any given day, customers range from men sharing coffee and conversation to athletes stopping by post-workout for mimosas, illustrating the store’s enduring role as a local gathering spot over more than two centuries.