Before the era of big-box stores and self-checkout systems, the general store was the chief emporium of daily staples and apothecary, some doubling as post offices. Not just simply mercantiles to purchase necessities, these were places to connect with your neighbours and served as a hub for the community – just like North Vancouver's Mo's General Store, a nostalgic throwback to simpler times.
Like the shopkeepers of yesteryear, owner Mithra Sawyer stocks her shop with an impressive variety of merchandise. Aesthetically minded, she curates a modern take on a general store while balancing an old-fashioned air – espousing a Manhattan vibe in Lower Lonsdale, according to Mithra. She pairs housewares and common goods alongside artisanal foods and homemade craft items, confections, accessories, home decor and contemporary art. "We have a little bit of everything," she explains, adding, "It's all carefully selected, good quality modern products that we have already admired and tested."
