Some stores exist to sell you things. The 1836 Country Store exists to make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time – and also to sell you some very good fudge.
A Barn Full of Vermont
The 1836 Country Store occupies a historic barn at 28 West Main Street in downtown Wilmington, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The building dates to 1836 (hence the name), and the owners have leaned into that heritage with creaky wooden floors, rustic shelving, and a layout that rewards wandering.
The store is part general store, part candy shop, part Vermont souvenir destination. It manages to be charming without being cheesy – a balance that plenty of tourist-town shops fail to strike.
What You’ll Find
The handmade fudge is the flagship. Made on premises with real Vermont butter, the selection rotates but typically includes Chocolate Butterfinger, Chocolate Heath Bar, Chocolate Mint Swirl, and Chocolate Walnut. At about $5 a piece, it’s the kind of impulse buy that nobody regrets.
Beyond the fudge, the store stocks a curated selection of Vermont products and old-fashioned goods:
🍁 Vermont maple syrup in all four grades – Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark
🧀 Wheels of Vermont cheddar and smoked cheddar
🍬 Retro candy you haven’t seen since childhood – Candy Buttons, Cherry Bites, Old Fashioned Lemon Drops, and jars of gumballs
🎁 Vermont-branded souvenirs, kitchen items, handmade gifts, and U.S. flags
🍫 Homemade chocolates including their “famous” peanut butter cups
They also carry one of the largest cookie cutter collections visitors report ever seeing – which is either a niche draw or a delightful surprise, depending on your enthusiasm for baking.
Pricing and What to Budget
Most items at the 1836 Country Store are reasonably priced for a specialty gift shop. Fudge runs about $5 per piece or $18–20 per pound. Maple syrup starts around $10 for a small bottle and goes up from there depending on size and grade. The retro candy is sold by weight or in pre-packaged bags, usually $3–8 per bag. Vermont cheddar wheels range from $8–15 depending on size. Plan to spend $15–40 for a mix of gifts and snacks – or more if you get serious about the cookie cutter collection.
Good to Know
📍 28 West Main Street, Wilmington, VT 05363
🕐 Open daily 10am-5pm (hours may extend during peak ski season and holidays)
📞 (802) 464-5102
🅿️ Free street parking along West Main Street, plus a small municipal lot within a one-minute walk
The store is right in the middle of Wilmington’s walkable downtown strip, next to Bartleby’s Books and a short stroll from Village Roost Cafe. It’s about 12-15 minutes from Valley View Villa and fits naturally into a Wilmington shopping trip.
If you’re looking for a place to grab Vermont maple syrup, local cheese, or a gift that says “we went somewhere interesting,” this is the stop. Guests staying at Valley View Villa often pair a fudge run here with breakfast at Village Roost or browsing at Bartleby’s – all within a two-block stretch. And the fudge is reason enough on its own.
Some of our favorite moments with guests happen when their kids walk into the 1836 Country Store for the first time. It turns into a treasure hunt, and there is something genuinely fun about watching a kid who has only ever known modern candy discover the wax bottles, ribbon candy, and penny-candy jars their grandparents grew up on. The creaky wooden floors and the smell of the place do half the work. Letting each kid pick one thing turns a five-minute stop into the part of the trip they talk about at dinner back at the villa.
We also lean on this store as an anchor for a slow Wilmington afternoon, especially when the weather turns and the mountain is not calling. It pairs naturally with a wander down Main Street, poking into the other shops and grabbing a coffee. It is a strong stop for gifts to bring home too, since you can knock out neighbors, coworkers, and the pet sitter in one stop without anything feeling generic. When guests ask us how to fill a low-key day, this is almost always where we send them first.
Guests staying at Valley View Villa often ask us for one easy, low-commitment stop to fold into a Vermont weekend, and the 1836 Country Store is the name that comes up most. It works because it asks nothing of your itinerary. There’s no reservation, no timed entry, and no rush, which makes it a natural fit for a rainy afternoon when the plan falls apart or for the drive home when you want one last taste of the trip before the highway. Families with kids seem to love that everyone can wander at their own pace, from the candy bins to the maple shelves to the racks of odds and ends.
It’s also where a lot of our guests solve the going-home-gift problem. A jug of syrup, a wedge of cheddar, or a box of fudge travels well and lands better back home than anything from an airport shop. If you like bringing back something that actually feels like where you’ve been, an unhurried browse here before checkout day is an easy win, and it pairs naturally with a stroll through the rest of Wilmington’s village.
🗺️ More to Explore Near Mount Snow
- Best Shopping in Wilmington, VT: Top Boutiques and Gift Shops on Main Street – Related read from valleyviewvt.com
- Downtown Wilmington, VT – A Walking Tour of Main Street – Related read from valleyviewvt.com
- Bartleby’s Books – Independent Bookstore in Downtown Wilmington, VT – Related read from valleyviewvt.com
- Village Roost Cafe – Farm-to-Table Breakfast and Lunch in Wilmington, VT – Related read from valleyviewvt.com
- Dot’s Restaurant: Beloved Diner for All-Day Breakfast & Comfort Food in Wilmington – Related read from valleyviewvt.com
- Maple Leaf Tavern: Rustic Tavern Dining & Craft Brews in Wilmington, VT – Related read from valleyviewvt.com
- North Star Bowl – Candlepin Bowling & Mini Golf in Wilmington, VT – Related read from valleyviewvt.com
- Grocery Shopping Near Mount Snow, Vermont: Where to Go – Related read from valleyviewvt.com
Is the 1836 Country Store Worth Visiting?
For a quick stop during a Wilmington day, absolutely. The handmade fudge alone justifies the detour, and the retro candy and Vermont goods make it easy to find gifts for people back home. It’s not a place you’ll spend two hours, but 20–30 minutes of browsing is time well spent.
What’s the Best Fudge Flavor at 1836 Country Store?
The Chocolate Walnut and Chocolate Mint Swirl are the most popular, but the seasonal flavors rotate. Ask the staff what’s fresh that day – they make fudge in small batches and are happy to let you sample before buying.
Can You Buy Vermont Maple Syrup at 1836 Country Store?
Yes. They carry all four official Vermont grades – Golden (Delicate Taste), Amber (Rich Taste), Dark (Robust Taste), and Very Dark (Strong Taste). Prices start around $10 for a small bottle. The staff can explain the differences between grades if you’re not sure which to choose.
Is There Parking Near the 1836 Country Store?
Free street parking is available along West Main Street in both directions. A small municipal lot sits about a one-minute walk east of the store. During busy weekends and holidays, spots fill up by mid-morning, so arriving before 11am gives you the best selection.
