The Old Farmer’s Almanac General Store

A year ago I would have rated this store a 5. Last time I went in it was almost empty. Maybe going out of business. Ihope not!

It’s a General Store with a unique blend of local art and country charm. The family and I went exploring (shopping) and decided to make our destination the Legends outlet center in Sparks.
I’m a sucker for old timey stores so when I saw the Farmers Almanac General Store, I knew it would be one of my stops at the center and I wasn’t disappointed. Yes, it has the usual Precious Moments ceramics and assortment of tea sets, but what sets this one apart is the art that is offered. I am in awe of the summery crafts and sea-​inspired paintings of mermaids. Just beautiful.
AND, they sell pumpkin butter! If you haven’t tasted it, stop what you’re doing and go get some. It makes the perfect pumpkin pie filling and I have a great recipe for pumpkin bars. This stuff is usually seasonal, so finding some jars in summer just made my season.
This will be one of my favorite stores from now on. Four stars is due to the pricing on a lot of the items. A touch on the high side for an outlet mall.

The sales tax issue is now fixed. Thank you.
Nice people work there.

Great place, wonderful employees and terrific prices

No Refund on Pre-​order.
The store is quaint and fun to shop. I pre –ordered a figurine and wanted to cancel the order. The order has NOT been fulfilled, however the store has already charged me and won’t refund a pre –order. The
site can’t help me, the manager of this store won’t refund.
I won’t be shopping here anymore. Their ‘satisfaction guaranteed’ on the sales slip is meaningless. Bernie

Not quite what I thought it would be. It was in transition from Christmas to spring shopping so a little bare and mishmash of stuff.

I really like this place. I did not really enjoy the customer service today. I have been here a total of three times and the first two times were fabulous. Sort of. Usually when you enter a store you get a greeting and a smile. Or at least just a greeting? Or a smile? Or… eye contact? I don‘t know.
Let me get to the good stuff about this store: It is awesome in terms of merchandise. There are so many fun and unique items here from candles in tin cups, to corn on the cob popcorn, homey signs for your place of residence, chocolate covered almonds, etc. It is a hodge podge of fun items and I especially love all the hot sauces, chutneys, bread mixes, chocolate covered deliciousness, jams, spreads, mustards in so many different flavors, and assorted honey products. You should check this store out if you’re looking for a neat gift. That is why I came here today but unfortunately my view of this store was spoiled by the employees working today.
I had seen the older gentlemen there before when I last visited this store last May. Last time I was there with my mom he trailed us like no one’s business. Maybe he thought we were trying to still a vanilla scented candle or something. Who knows, but he was helpful. This time he seemed rushed, unhappy, and agitated and that could be because of the two young ladies he was working with. First of all, as I had mentioned earlier, no one greeted me! They looked at me, but didn‘t say a word. It was NOT busy. Whatever. I browsed and browsed and no one asked if I needed help, if I was finding everything okay, or if they could hold the items I was toting around at the counter. What if I needed help?! What if I didn‘t know here the jalapeño jelly was? It could happen. I did happen to be near the counter and hear the two girls messing around, chatting, being girls, I guess? You’re at work so please work. What I found even more offensive is that when other, older patrons started to enter the store they hopped to asking them if they needed help like they were working based off of commission. Excuse me? Hello? What am I chopped liver? ANNOYING as crap.
After being ignored for nearly half an hour, I had enough and took my two items up to the counter. I would have purchased more but I was really turned off by the lack of customer service at this shop. The gentleman helped me at the register and didn‘t even really make eye contact, or ask me the standard «Is that all for you today?», but just silently rung everything up. Mkay. Awkward. I wished him a good day and he wished me the same (shock!). Eh, I wont be spending anymore of my money here and will only be returning if I really want some more of that yummy jam. HIRE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS. Please?

This place sells everything that you did not know you needed. They have a wide variety of cookbooks on just about anything you can imagine. Also as other reviews have stated, signs, foods, both premade, and mixxes, kitchen trinkets, and so many other things. For me to make a list to take too long and then I would have very sore fingers from all the typing, and you would have sore eyes and a sore brain trying to figure out my typos.
The best thing I can say is if you are at Legends, just stop in have a look arround, you wont be sorry.

This is one of those stores that sells kitsch. Like bubbly night lights. I WANT ONE.
Hilarious Christmas tree ornaments. I WANT ONE.
Signs that tell you to play, breathe, have bliss, don’t shoot the cook, yada yada. I WANT ONE.
Great if you are looking for unusual gifts for someone.

Always a pleasure and very reasonable prices! Katie is the best salesperson… professional yet friendly and no hard sell.
They have a wonderful store that is chock full of the most delightful gifts. If you can’t find something here, I don’t know if you will ever find it! Cat lovers, grandma, secret santa, family, even male friends… they have it all. At very reasonable prices too!
Don’t forget to check out their Clearance area on the sidewalk before you go in. I have scored terrific deals in the bins!

Oh Farmer’s Almanac…
This is a large shop at The Legends at Sparks Marina that has a lot of what my mom would call «dust catchers». Overpriced dust catchers at that! However, if you know someone that is collecting roosters or you’re looking for a gift for someone or want something kind of kitschy, this is the place to go. And it is fun to stop in and have a browse. Mostly. There are a few exceptions which include:
1) aggressive staff that hounds you when you look at the Disney Jim Shore figurines either because a) they want to sell it to you or b) they’re nervous your children are going to break something. Listen, my kids have been drilled they are not to touch anything and to only «look with their eyes» and if they DO break something, I will pay for it. GET OFF MY BACK.
2) the fragrance. They scent the entire store with… licorice. Yes, the whole store smells like black licorice. Which, maybe some people dig that smell. I’m not one of those people. I almost feel like they should hand out breathing masks at the door. Or hey, maybe not even scent the store in the first place! There’s a novel idea.
3) Prices. They have some cute, unique things in this store but so much of it is so very overpriced. We generally only make a purchase when something goes in sale, unfortunately. Hitting this place up after Christmas for goodies for next year is always a good plan.
All in all, we really like this shop. But they need to reign in their staff some (I once was barked at for taking a cell phone picture of a sign I wanted to send to a friend, to see if she liked it before purchasing. I was rudely told they do not allow pictures to be taken in the store. I left without making a purchase, of course and still bristle over the event to this day), maybe run some more sales and knock off the licorice.