Downtown fixture Morganton General Store to close after 7 years in business

For seven years, the Morganton General Store has been a fixture downtown, providing unique souvenirs and gifts for residents and tourists passing through. But soon, the store and its adjoining cafe will close.

Owners Beth and Harvey Hicks opened the general store in April 2018 and a year later added Swede’s Cafe, known for its fresh-baked scones and cozy meals, on the store’s mezzanine level. But according to posts from the cafe, it was getting harder to do business.

“After much deliberation, through sleepless nights and discussions with my family, we have made a difficult, heart wrenching decision,” the couple wrote in a statement on the businesses’ social media pages Monday morning.

Starting on Monday, Dec. 1, everything in the Morganton General Store will be offered at a 20% discount, excluding products from local vendors. More details about an official closing date will be coming soon.

“We will miss you all! We cherish all of the memories you have helped us create! Hopefully you all have some fond memories of the times you have visited our humble establishment,” the Hicks wrote. “It is so bittersweet to think of moving on from here, from no longer being part of your lives, from no longer being a fixture to Downtown Morganton!”

Read more about the store's closure in Saturday's edition of The Paper.