Wanamakers General Store

Wanamakers General Store is an independent country store located at 8888 Kings Highway in Kempton, Pennsylvania, in the rural northern reaches of Berks County. The business combines several functions under one roof: a full-service deli, a grocery and specialty food market, a gift and general merchandise shop, and a supply counter for anglers and other outdoor visitors. It serves both the surrounding farming community and the steady flow of travelers who pass through the Kempton area on their way to regional attractions.

The store operates in the tradition of the Pennsylvania crossroads general store, a business model that once anchored nearly every rural village in the region. Rather than specializing narrowly, the store stocks a broad and deliberately varied inventory, so that a single visit can cover lunch, household staples, a gift, and a few items for an afternoon outdoors. Much of the interior retains the character of an older mercantile building, including a wood stove that has become a familiar landmark for regular customers during the colder months.

Location and Setting

Kempton sits in Albany Township along the northern edge of Berks County, near the boundary with Lehigh and Schuylkill counties. The village lies in the valley below the Kittatinny Ridge, the long forested mountain that carries the Appalachian Trail across eastern Pennsylvania. The store's position on Kings Highway places it within a short drive of several destinations that draw visitors from the Lehigh Valley, Reading, Philadelphia, and beyond.

• Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the internationally known raptor migration observatory, is a few miles to the west.
• Leaser Lake, a state-managed fishing lake in Lynn Township, Lehigh County, is a short drive to the east.
• The Appalachian Trail crosses the ridge above the village, with access points nearby.
• The Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern Railroad, a heritage tourist railroad, operates seasonally in the immediate area.
• The surrounding network of two-lane valley roads, including Old Route 22 and the routes over the ridge, is popular with motorcyclists and cyclists.

Because of this concentration of outdoor and heritage attractions in an area with few commercial services, the store functions as a practical stop for hikers, birders, anglers, and day-trippers as well as for residents of the surrounding townships.

The Deli and Prepared Food

The deli counter is one of the store's primary draws. Sandwiches, hoagies, and wraps are assembled to order, with cold and hot options available. The menu is not static: alongside standard offerings, the kitchen rotates seasonal items through the year, so the selection in spring differs from what is available in autumn. Soups are prepared in house and offered on a changing schedule, which means the exact lineup on any given day depends on what the kitchen has made.

Customers order at the counter, and the operation is set up for reasonably quick turnaround, which suits both construction crews and delivery drivers on a lunch break and visitors who want to eat before or after a hike. Ice cream is also sold, including products from Nesting Box Creamery, a Berks County dairy operation, making the store a warm weather stop in its own right.

Because the menu changes and some items sell through, calling ahead at 610-756-6609 is a reasonable step for anyone traveling a distance for a specific sandwich, soup, or seasonal special.

Groceries and Specialty Foods

The grocery side of the business blends everyday necessities with items that would ordinarily require a trip to a specialty market. Shoppers will find:

• Fresh produce, with local sourcing when the growing season allows.
• Breads, cheeses, meats, and other goods from Pennsylvania producers.
• Bulk bins and bagged bulk items, including candies, nuts, dried fruit, snack mixes, and granola.
• Pantry staples, canned goods, beverages, and household basics.
• Jams, honey, pickled goods, baked items, and other small-batch products typical of the region.
• A kombucha refill station, an unusual feature for a rural general store.

For residents of Albany Township and the neighboring valley communities, this inventory covers the gap between a convenience store and a full supermarket, reducing the need to drive to Hamburg, Kutztown, or Allentown for a short list of items.

Retail, Gifts, and General Merchandise

A significant portion of the floor space is given over to non-food merchandise. The selection leans toward giftware, seasonal decor, kitchen and home items, toys, novelties, and small keepsakes, with a rotating mix that changes as new stock arrives. Handcrafted work by area artisans is carried alongside manufactured goods, and the store sells its own branded apparel and merchandise, which functions as a souvenir for visitors who treat the trip as an outing.

The result is a browsing experience closer to a country market than a chain retailer, with inventory that rewards repeat visits because the assortment is not the same from one season to the next.

Fishing and Outdoor Supplies

The store maintains a fishing department that is well used by anglers headed to Leaser Lake and the creeks and reservoirs of the surrounding counties. Tackle, line, hooks, and related gear are stocked, along with fresh live bait such as nightcrawlers. Pennsylvania fishing license services are available at the store, which spares visitors a separate stop before heading to the water. This combination of licensing, bait, and tackle in a location close to accessible fishing is one of the store's more distinctive services and reflects its role as a supply point for the surrounding recreation area.

Seating and Atmosphere

Both indoor and outdoor seating are provided. Inside, a small dining area allows customers to eat on site in any weather. Outside, picnic tables give visitors a place to sit with a sandwich or ice cream, which is particularly convenient for groups arriving by motorcycle or bicycle and for families breaking up a longer drive. The interior retains period details and displays that reflect the building's long service as a village store.

Accessibility and Practical Information

• Address: 8888 Kings Highway, Kempton, Pennsylvania 19529
• Telephone: +1 610-756-6609
• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible restroom
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Parking is on site, and the rural location means access is by car, motorcycle, or bicycle rather than public transit. Visitors planning to combine a stop at the store with a hike at Hawk Mountain, a ride on the heritage railroad, or a day of fishing should confirm current hours in advance, since operating times at rural general stores can vary by season. For those unfamiliar with the area, the store is a useful orientation point and a practical place to pick up food, ice, bait, or supplies before continuing into the surrounding ridge and valley countryside.