San Gregorio General Store — Local services in Half Moon Bay

Still sells their famous molasses cookies (the cookies might be a tad smaller than they used to be, but I was much younger when I first found this place). No cash register at the cookie counter, it's the honor system, just leave your money on the counter and choose a cookie. This store has been serving the local ranching community since 1886. I've been visiting this store off and on since 1968, for 47 years. Things have changed over the decades. One used to be able to buy overalls, Lee Jeans, hats, and other cowboy essentials. One still can, but they've shifted much of their inventory to tourist items, but many of these items have a ranching flavor or a bit of the local music scene over the last several decades when they started having local music on some weekends. Neal Young lives up on a ranch not far away, and he and/or some other buddies will get together and play a few numbers. Anybody who posts a negative review has had undoubtedly had an experience where the store employees have not gotten on theirs knees to serve them. It is still very much a local store, serving their regular customers, and if you enter this establishment with some sense of entitlement, one may indeed be disappointed. But if you visit often enough you may become part of the scene here, eventually. If you can respect that tourists are ephemeral, and locals are family, and just enjoy this place for the history and gravitas of it as a local institution, you'll find this to be a place you might want to visit more than...

Title: San Gregorio General Store: A Highway 1 Gem Worth the Stop

Review:

Some places just have that special, indefinable something that makes you want to return again and again. San Gregorio General Store, tucked away just off the iconic Highway 1, is one of those places for me. It's not just a pit stop; it's an experience that allows you to momentarily step away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy simple pleasures.

As soon as you walk in, you're greeted by the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur or just need a caffeine kick, the quality of their cup of joe will not disappoint. It's the kind of coffee that makes you want to sit, sip, and savor — not gulp down in a hurry.

While the store does get a bit crowded on weekends, it's for a good reason. Locals and travelers alike appreciate the welcoming atmosphere, the wide array of goods, and of course, the fantastic coffee. But even with the weekend rush, there's always a corner where you can nestle in and soak up the ambiance.

What I especially love is how this place effortlessly blends the essence of a traditional general store with contemporary charm. You'll find everything from local produce to vintage memorabilia, all adding to the store's unique character.

If you're ever driving along Highway 1, make sure to add San Gregorio General Store to your itinerary. It's more than just a place to refuel; it's a destination in itself that embodies the spirit of relaxation and...

We've been going to San G store forever and a day , we live locally and it's a great friends and family meeting place rain or shine . Bundy Brown band last Saturday of every month is always fun as well as all the other incredible music that performs there . Great books , great hats , great Bloody Mary's made by Cathi and Johannes . Spectacular scenery , awesome people and an old old old general store that has the best most eclectic gifts around . If you can't figure out what to give someone for an event , go there , the aisles are full of cool , cool stuff you won't find at most stores . All in all a great coastal experience if you're looking for a fun weekend afternoon or any day of the week . It's pretty quiet Monday - Friday so it's a great place to read by the wood stove , shop or enjoy a drink with no crowds around and absolutely no pretentious caffiene gyroed tech nuts tapping on keyboards looking like they own the place , maybe a cowboy or two or ranch locals or a small lost band of tourists but overall a library during the week . Awesome find in...