Parisa Burton 
A storied New Jersey spot is making a comeback this summer. Schooley’s Mountain Store, which has stood in Long Valley for more than 200 years, is the oldest general store in New Jersey. Now, after closing nearly a year ago, the historic NJ shop will reopen this summer under new ownership. Located at 250 Schooley’s Mountain Road, The General Store has been a Long Valley staple, serving generations since 1803. Read on to learn about Schooley’s Mountain Store’s reopening in Long Valley, NJ.
About The General Store
The General Store is more than a typical stop for quick snacks, groceries, and last-minute essentials. It is also home to one of the oldest and continuously running post offices in the country and has hosted visits from late U.S. presidents, including William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, according to Patch. Its closure in 2025 was a complete surprise to both locals and out-of-town customers.
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Longtime owner Peter Andrich, who operated The General Store for nearly 20 years, closed the business to retire and donated the remaining food and beverage supplies to the Long Valley Community Assistance Program and Food Pantry.
New Era for Long Valley
While the 2025 closure marked a devastating loss for Long Valley residents, new owners Mark and Maria Broadhurst will be reopening the General Store. They also own the sweets company, Schooley’s Mountain Confection Co., and aim to revitalize The General Store space while honoring its rich history and place in the community.
“It’s a pretty heavy responsibility, and we’re excited about it,” Mark told Patch. “It’s a heavy one because that store means so much to so many people and has meant so much for many generations. We’ve been members of this community for a long time, and we’ll take that responsibility very seriously.”
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The couple will run the establishment with the help of their four children, son-in-law, and Local Valley hires. A soft opening is expected by the summertime.
The team will bring sandwiches, ice cream, coffee, baked goods, and other staples back to the store, along with their signature caramel apples. Spoiler: We tried them for ourselves the other day and have been craving more ever since.
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The Broadhurts wrote on Instagram: “We’re bringing back the Mountain’s best coffee and baked goods, gourmet sandwiches, our famous caramel apples, and – ice cream! Follow us here for updates and stay tuned for our Grand Reopening!”
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The team plans to prioritize local farming and food producers and give back to the community through their existing sponsorship of the Long Valley Baseball Club. They also plan to use proceeds from the store to support local scholarships through Joshua’s Peace, a nonprofit created in honor of their late son, Joshua, to give back to the community in his name.
We have reached out to the new General Store team and will update this piece as more information becomes available.
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