Mesopotamia—Approximately two miles east of the Geauga County line and only six miles from the heart of Middlefield is the perfect spot to step back in time. You can enjoy an ice-cold bottle of soda or an ice cream cone while sitting on the porch listening to the esthetically-pleasing clip-clop of Amish buggies going by. It is a different world and one worth exploring.
The End of the Commons General Store is the place of which I speak. They are located at 8719 State Route 534 in Mesopotamia. The End of the Commons is Ohio’s oldest general store and was established in 1840. There have been many changes since those days, but some things have stayed the same. For example, the floors in the hardware section are original and many of the decorations are real antiques. Some things are new though, such as the 4,500 square foot addition that was added this year.
Ken and Margaret Schaden bought the general store in 1982 and continue to run it today with their 11 children. Scott Schaden spoke with me about the expansion and the sense of community that is felt as you walk in the front door. Schaden explained that the family always wanted to keep the feeling of nostalgia and to be a positive part of the community.
The renovations, mainly done by local craftsmen, started in October of last year and were completed in April of 2010. The idea was to expand the services provided at the general store. A café was added which serves made-to- order items and deli sandwiches along with a deli and cheese section. Since this is the first time that food is being served here, the menu is evolving with the help of some local food experts. It is a balancing act figuring out what will work and what needs to be changed. A pizza oven is planned as well as possibly selling baked goods. The café offers seating inside with wonderfully decorated tables decoupaged with actual newspaper ads from the 1950s and other nostalgic pieces. A few of the tables, which were locally made, are shadow boxes with more antiques inside. Much of the wood used in the construction was taken from local de-construction projects done in the area.
They now have a fudge station where fudge is made on the premises every day, guaranteeing that it is always fresh and tasty. New flavors are always being developed and tried as well as keeping traditional flavors. One of the newest flavors is bubble gum fudge. Sounds strange, but it is extremely good. They currently make 24 flavors and try to have most of the flavors available daily.
The grocery and hardware sections were expanded to provide more options for the local community. Not every grocery or hardware situation warrants a trip into Middlefield or Warren and the End of the Commons is trying to fill that need with their product lines. Schaden explained that many of the items in the hardware section are basic items necessary to run a household.
The bulk food section has been expanded also. In order to keep up with current consumer demands, new items have been added that are gluten-free, sugar-free or fit the need for special diets. Since they buy in bulk and repackage the items themselves, there are no additives included in the bulk items which is very important to many and provides better value to the consumer. The prepackaged section was also added to; now more pickled products and prepackaged mixes are available.
The bottled soda section saw an increase in floor space. The Schadens now offer over 70 varieties of bottled soda from all over the world and are hoping to expand that to 100 in the near future. The coolers in the older section are now full of ice-cold sodas of every imaginable flavor. Schaden explained that many customers like to get a soda, sit on the porch and watch the buggies go by; in fact, that behavior is encouraged!
Other more practical issues were improved upon at this time also. More parking was added. The huge wooden horse and buggy across the commons, which the Schadens have owned for two years now, is now a location for 25 new parking spaces. Modern restrooms were also added. Schaden laughed that many of the calls they receive ask about the restrooms. Since they have a lot of bus and tourist traffic, it was important to them to be able to provide travelers with clean and modern facilities.
The End of the Commons participates in two annual events in Mesopotamia, the first being the Mesopotamia Ox Roast which is typically held over the July 4th weekend. The Mesopotamia Fall Heritage Days will be celebrated on October 2nd this year. Both events are great family fun.
When you visit, be sure to stop and check out the newly-restored 1940s gas station adjacent to the store. There are lots of things to see while you are there, along with a lot of tasty treats that will transport you back to your childhood. You can check out their website (www.endofthecommons.com) to get a feel for their product lines or even place an online order.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the End of the Commons General Store and would highly recommend a visit to anyone looking for a unique shopping experience.
