The Whitehouse General Store - Barb's Cafe, in "Mayberry"

Address:

98 Old Hwy 28, White House Station, NJ 08889

In This Video:

The quiet street where this store resides was once the hustle and bustle of the town. Barbara is the heart and hands behind the Whitehouse General Store, continuing to cultivate a community spirit, pride in its historic significance, and joy in serving fresh and delicious food.

Though the store today feels more like a cozy café than a traditional general store or deli, its role in Whitehouse Station remains essential. Barbara, a long-time resident of the town, researched town archives and tells its story - like when George Washington once stayed on the very street where her shop resides, and showed black-and-white photos of the town being built.

Barbara’s operation is rooted in relationships and recipes. The daily menu changes, bringing customers back throughout the week. It's a lot of effort, but it's good for business. You might stop in for a sandwich and find yourself coming back another day for coffee and a slice of her early American cake, a nod to her old soul.

Barbara also spoke about a moment made her very afraid: a fire that temporarily closed her doors. She was nervous that people would assume the worst - that she was closed for good. To rid the rumors, she sat on the porch every day and told all who passed by, “I’ll be back in two weeks.” What followed was a wave of community kindness—neighbors donating flooring, others simply stopping by to talk. That support, Barbara says, is what makes her town feel like her own personal Mayberry.

Barbara hopes that in a few years, another Whitehouse Station resident might step up to inherit the store and continue its legacy. In the meantime, she’s focused on modern marketing, like TikTok, to reach new audiences. She's candid about needing help—someone to film and post while she’s busy with daily operations.

The Whitehouse General Store isn’t just about what’s on the menu. It’s about the people who walk through the doors, stay a while, share stories, and create memories that linger long after they’ve gone.