Wilbur’s Country Store Faces Uncertain Future as Historic N.J. Property Awaits Buyer

Wilbur’s Country Store in Warren County, New Jersey’s most famous general store, is still for sale. The store has served generations of Frelinghuysen locals and tourists in a 19th-century building on Route 94. Whoever buys the $728,000 property and preserves its culture determines its fate.

Wilbur’s, one of the state’s remaining independent country stores, sells confectionery, toys, household items, and British specialties for decades. His specialty is HP sauce, McVitie’s digestive biscuits, and Heinz baked beans, reflecting his English roots before moving to the US. The small-town store cannot adapt to new marketing tactics and relies on word of mouth and loyal consumers rather than internet or social media.

A six-acre site houses the store, business areas, and an upstairs studio apartment. Since listing with Weichert Realtors earlier this year, it has received attention, but offers are too low to close. Merrilane Osmun took over after her close friend and former owner left and keeps the store open on weekends to find a buyer.

Before Wawa and QuickChek, little New Jersey villages had individual general stores. Several stores have closed, but others have flourished nearby. The Hainesville General Store and Gariss General Store in Sussex County have new owners and remain operational, with the latter renaming as the Stillwater Café. Osmun and the community want Wilbur’s story to live on.

Though it requires updating, Weichert’s listing underlines the property’s appeal. Locals believe it is best to keep the store as is rather than change it into a deli, café, or artisan shop village. Wilbur’s was a popular six-day-a-week hangout. Although it only runs on weekends, Osmun believes it must be busy to show buyers its value.

Wilbur’s Country Store, New Jersey’s last, has more than real estate in its destiny. State’s traditional general stores may lose their charm and tradition in an age of retail giants and online marketplaces.

Sources
Information gathered from local news reports and real estate listings related to Wilbur’s Country Store in Warren County, New Jersey.