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.
Good to Know
📍 28 West Main Street, Wilmington, VT 05363
🕐 Open daily 10am-5pm
📞 (802) 464-5102
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. And the fudge is reason enough on its own.
