All-American Valley General Store

So disappointed! We drove all the way from hartford today to check out the store only to find a sign on the door saying they were closed for vacation. I wish there would have been something on their website letting people know they were going to be closed.
Hopefully we will go back soon and I can give a proper review!

Live Music, Café Dining, Boutique in «General Store,»
THE WORDS THAT FOLLOW MAY BE A BAD IDEA. They are about a rather unique grass-​roots establishment in historic downtown Seymour. Currently only a savvy «in crowd» knows about a café surprisingly almost hidden inside a general store, which has been reinventing itself quietly over the past two years while neighbor to a growing number of antique shops. It’s located on Columbus Street midway between Route 67 and Bank Streets.
This past summer the Red Clover Café sprouted inside Kimberly Dulka’s All-​American Valley General Store. Signage, rocking chairs, and farming tools on its front porch – reminiscent of Green Acres – beckon passersby to browse vintage treasures and taste edible delicacies inside where the café menu fare is as serious as the white tablecloths and cloth napkins on candle-​lighted tables.
If my telling about it increases its popularity, then soon there’ll be standing-​room-​only to live bluegrass, jazz, and blues on Wednesday nights. (It’s wise to arrive early to get a table with a view of the musicians. Getting or reserving a table also means having a place to enjoy inspired farm-​to-​table soups, Panini sandwiches, and salads as artistic as the desserts.) If you come to dine on a weekend afternoon, it’s likely pianists may be taking turns playing the 1904 Gulbransen upright piano in the corner. Kim may take a break from the kitchen to sing a classic jazz tune, such as «Frim Fram Sauce.» Or she might yodel on request. Or – on «farm to table» evenings, guitarist Greg Pederson may be singing classic folk tunes as well as his original lilting compositions.
It’s called the All-​American Valley General Store – or, as those in the know simply say, «the general store.» Its popularity has been growing by word of mouth due to Dulka-​Matthews family power, despite its side-​street location away from antique row along Bank and Main Streets.
A GENERAL STORE? Yes it really is. With its café it is becoming a fascinating place for casual dining, baby and bridal showers, and a Connecticut valley marketplace for great and wonderful things made or grown locally, including dairy products and fresh vegetables only from Connecticut farms and Kim’s historic organic farm, Red Clover Farms (
).
«I come especially for the turnovers, organic muffins, Danish pastries, croissants, tarts, and scones,» long-​time customer Helen Lukacs reveals, albeit shyly. «They’re edible works of art!» she exclaims.
According to 19-​year-​old store manager and assistant cook Angie Matthews, the store is an outlet for a New Haven artisanal German bakery. «Our marble ryes, whole-​grain loaves, pretzel rolls, double-​crust pies, tarts, cupcakes, and cookies are like sculptures,» said Angie. «And we have rich chocolates and flavored olive oils in pretty bottles you’ll want to reuse or display,» she added. Indeed, some customers buy them to give as gifts. Says 10-​year-​old Julie Matthews, «Many customers think we are a gift shop.»
To others who come looking to buy vintage farmhouse housewares, it’s an antique shop. «Oh, I also come here for antique jewelry,» Lukacs interjects. Other customers think the store is a deli for the fine delicatessen meats, cheeses, and salads. Those who come for milk, eggs, butter, fresh-​picked heirloom tomatoes and other vegetables think it’s a grocery store. Recently classes of school kids have been coming here on field trips to learn about farming.
YOU’VE GOT THE IDEA NOW. Everything you can buy in The General Store or eat in the Red Clover Café is either made or grown in Connecticut, which is the culmination of an idea Kim had two years ago.
«OPEN MIC» NIGHTS are Wednesdays from 6:30pm. A regular feature is the bluegrass band appropriately named The General Store, with Kim Dulka (vocals), Dave Foster (vocals & guitar), Linda Foster (vocals & guitar), Raye Hodgson (vocals & chorded zither), and Kevin Spooner (bass).
FARMER’S FEAST DINNERS are Saturdays 6:30 — 9:30pm. Menu for December 21 is Baby Kale Salad with Lemon-​Caper Dressing, Tartine with Green Olive Tapenade, Bluefin Tuna with Kumquat, Roasted Sweet Beets, Pineapple Fritter with Coconut Ice Cream.
Again, here’s the secret location: Columbus Street midway between Route 67 and Bank Streets. The menu is at
. Admission always free at all times
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE. Persons using walkers or wheelchairs will appreciate the helical ramp for easy access. PHONE: 203÷828−6442. FARMER’S FEAST, every Saturday 6:30 — 9:30pm. Closed Mondays, OPEN Tue 10am-​6pm, Wed 10am-9:30pm, Thur 10am-​8pm, Fri 10am-​6pm, Sat 10am-9:30pm, Sun noon-​5pm. KNITTING CLASS: 5:30−8pm, Thursdays by appointment. Reservations required for Farmer’s Feast and Wednesday «open mic» nights.

We were excited to start our morning with coffee/​breakfast at the General Store. We got there soon after they opened, at about 10:15, and were apparently the first customers of the day. Walked up to the counter expecting to see the place ready for customers — some freshly baked goods under the glass display. Instead we see half a dried out blueberry pie that had obviously been left there all night long and looked like it needed to be thrown out, plus some other items that were equally sad looking. Still hopeful, we sat down, ordered coffee and asked about the scones (which, we presumed, would be freshly made for the Saturday morning crowd). «Well, um, we have two left.» Two left? This wasn’t sounding good. After sipping our weak coffee, which had that slightly bitter taste of coffee salvaged, again, from the night before, we were given two dried out scones. Thank goodness we asked for them to be warmed up, otherwise they would have been inedible. After finishing our «breakfast» we asked for the check and we’re told by the waitress, «Sure just a minute.» She then went outside — where we don’t know. Five minutes later we were still sitting there and had to find someone else to help us get the heck out of there. Needless to say, we were greatly disappointed.