funky general store - Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine

The Generalist: A Funky Twist on the Old General Store

Aaron Creighton Jun 30, 2026 0

On East Main Street in downtown Johnson City, The Generalist feels familiar before it feels easy to define. There are…

***Wooley Bear Caterpillar by Micha L. Rieser***

The Woolly Bear Caterpillar

The woolly bear caterpillar—the larval stage of the Isabella tiger moth—is perhaps the most famous insect prognosticator. These fuzzy caterpillars are defined by the black bands on their front and back ends, separated by a rusty-brown band in the middle.

The lore states that the width of the center band tells you exactly what to expect from the winter weather:

A wider brown band: Signals a milder winter.
A narrow brown band: Warns of a severe, deeply cold winter.

Celebrating the Forecast: Regional Festivals

While entomologists might attribute a woolly bear's band thickness to its age and spring feeding habits, the folklore remains deeply embedded in mountain culture. Each fall, the tradition is celebrated at massive community gatherings. If you want to see the forecast made live, check out these regional festivals:

Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival (Banner Elk, NC): Just a short drive south into the North Carolina High Country, this is the premier event of its kind. Held every third weekend in October since 1978, the festival draws thousands to watch caterpillars race up three-foot strings. The winning worm's owner takes home $1,000, and that specific caterpillar is used to declare the official winter forecast.
Beattyville Woolly Worm Festival (Beattyville, KY): Deep in the heart of Lee County, this festival serves as a major community gathering point. It blends the caterpillar racing tradition with live entertainment, Appalachian foodways, and heritage crafts, anchoring the fall season for the local community.

Persimmon seeds, picture from The Commercial Appeal — ***Persimmon seeds, image from Commercial Appeal***

The Persimmon Seed Forecast

One of the most uniquely regional traditions involves the native American persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana). According to local folklore, if you take a locally grown, fully ripe persimmon in the fall and split the dark seed lengthwise, the white cotyledon (kernel) inside will reveal a distinct shape that acts as a winter forecast:

The Spoon, Fork, and Knife Forecast. Source: Mossy Oak

The Spoon: Represents a shovel. Expect a winter with heavy, shovel-worthy snow.
The Fork: Represents a mild winter with light, powdery snow that will fall right through the tines of a pitchfork.
The Knife: Represents wind sharp enough to cut. Expect a bitterly cold, icy winter.

The Cocoa Trail: Where to Find Cocoa Bean & Butter

The Simkus family stays busy keeping local shelves stocked. If you are looking to get your hands on their artisanal treats, you can find them at these local hubs:

Boone Street Market:

Address: 101 Boone St, Jonesborough, TN 37659
Phone: (423) 753-4722
Website: jonesboroughlocallygrown.org/boone-street-market

The Generalist: General Store and Retail Collective:

Address: 248 E Main St, Johnson City, TN 37604
Phone: (423) 800-8803
Website: thegeneralist.store

The Greenhouse:

Address: 407 Tusculum Blvd, Greeneville, TN 37745
Phone: (423) 823-9611
Website: shopthegreenehouse.com

Faithful Fields Farm:

Address: 1101 Carroll Creek Rd, Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone: (423) 440-7153
Website: faithfulfieldsfarm.com

Freedom Farmstead:

Address: 1084 Reedy Creek Rd, Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 293-8329
Website: freedomfarmstead.com

Johnson City Farmers Market:

Address: 105 W Main St, Johnson City, TN 37604
Phone: (423) 467-5327
Website: facebook.com/johnsoncityfarmersmarket

Direct Orders:

Visit their website at cocoabeanandbutter.com

Our Top Picks: The Tasting Menu

Not sure where to start? Here are a few standout creations you absolutely have to try:

Dark Chocolate with Coffee:

A bold and energizing treat. This robust bark features coarse-ground coffee beans suspended in rich dark chocolate, offering a deeply roasted crunch that perfectly complements the chocolate's natural intensity.

Luanne's Butter Toffee:

An original, 30-year-old family recipe from Michigan that melts perfectly in your mouth. This is a rich and robust sweet experience.

Tart Cherry Bark:

Deeply flavored and unapologetically rich, pairing the bright tang of cherry with premium chocolate.

Wavy Potato Chip in Dark Chocolate:

A masterclass in the sweet-and-salty dynamic. Thick, wavy potato chips are crumbled directly into dark chocolate, delivering a satisfyingly salty crunch that cuts right through the sweetness and elevates the rich cocoa flavors.

Craftsmanship Runs in the Family

The Simkus family's dedication to handcrafted goods doesn't stop at the kitchen door. When you catch Cocoa Bean & Butter at local events, keep an eye out for the other side of the family's artistic talents. Alongside the chocolate barks and toffees, you'll find one of Joel and Kelly's son selling his own beautifully detailed leatherwork and hand-carved wooden spoons—proving that a dedication to artisan craftsmanship is genuinely a family trait.

Discovering Jonesborough—History, Heritage, and Handmade Art

While its youthful, artistic energy feels entirely modern, Jonesborough's roots run deep. Established in 1779—seventeen years before Tennessee even became a state—it is officially the oldest town in Tennessee. Today, the town is a growing community of roughly 6,750 residents experiencing an influx of young professionals and families, but its foundation was built by pioneers, rebels, and craftsmen.

A Town of Firsts

Jonesborough's rebellious spirit shines through its past. Between 1784 and 1788, the town was the capital of the short-lived State of Franklin, an unrecognized territory formed by frontier settlers seeking independence.
Jonesborough's progressive legacy is equally enduring. In 1820, the town was home to The Emancipator, the first American publication devoted entirely to the abolition of slavery, showing its early commitment to social change.

Resonances of the Frontier

As we explore Jonesborough's earliest days, it's important to recognize that most early structures were built primarily of wood and that very few survived the centuries. Still, this era remains tangible at a few key sites:

Christopher House photo by Steven C. Price

The Christopher Taylor House (Built 1777): This two-story log cabin is the crown jewel of Jonesborough’s frontier history. Originally located a mile outside of town, it was relocated to Main Street in 1974. A young lawyer named Andrew Jackson rented a room here in 1788.

Chester Inn - Photo by Steven C. Price

The Chester Inn & Museum (Built 1797): Built just after Tennessee gained statehood, this is the oldest original commercial building still standing in the downtown district. Today, the street-level museum features a massive diorama of 1850s Jonesborough and exhibits dedicated to the State of Franklin.

Washington County Courthouse - Photo by Brian Stansberry

The Washington County Courthouse Site: The beautiful 1913 courthouse in the center of town sits on a deeply historic footprint. It was on this exact spot, in a primitive 1779 log courthouse, that delegates of the unrecognized State of Franklin governed.

The Appalachian Tradition of Utilitarian Art

In the early days of Jonesborough, art was rarely something you simply hung on a wall to look at—it had to earn its keep. Life on the frontier demanded practicality, leading to a rich regional tradition of "utilitarian art." Appalachian settlers took the everyday items they needed to survive and infused them with beauty, art, and craftsmanship.

Display of Ironwork at Mill Spring Makers Market

Blacksmiths didn't just forge hinges and tools for practical use; they added elegant curves and decorative elements to the iron. Potters used the plentiful local clay to produce jugs, crocks, and bowls for food storage, then finished them with beautiful glazes and distinctive, signature rims. Weavers and quilters took scraps of fabric to keep their families warm, arranging them into elaborate, storytelling patterns.

Beautiful Pottery at Mill Spring Makers Market

This established tradition of making the functional beautiful lives on when you walk into the Mill Spring Makers Market today. The modern makers of Jonesborough are not only inspired by, but also actively continuing the centuries-old Appalachian legacy by crafting high-quality, everyday goods—such as soaps, clothing, pottery, and furniture—just as the town's early artisans did: with creativity, skill, and their own two hands.