Crossnore Mercantile
Linville River Mercantile & Bakery, Crossnore, NC
At the edge of the town of Crossnore, North Carolina, tucked into one of those tight mountain curves that scares the heebie-jeebies out of the outlanders, sits Jennifer Pinter's specialty dessert shop.
"When we opened the shop twenty years ago, all the locals laughed at us," Jennifer recalls with a smile. "Nothing had ever made a go of it in this curve, but I think that curve was a blessing for this place."
It is hard to argue with her logic.
The curve becomes so sharp so quickly that drivers find themselves slowed down almost to a complete stop. That is the exact moment you start wondering if you have accidentally driven straight through a time tunnel. Sitting directly in front of you is the Linville River Mercantile and Bakery, and it practically beckons you to pull over.
Oh, That 1920's Look Inside
I must confess: the first time I pulled into Jennifer's parking lot, it was a foggy afternoon, and walking through the front doors actually spooked me a bit. The interior looked so authentically like 1929 that I half expected Rod Serling to step out from the back room to say, "Welcome to the Twilight Zone." Thankfully, the rich aroma of freshly baked goods quickly sent those eerie thoughts scampering away.
The Magic is with Baking the World's Best Stuff
Jennifer isn't just a talented baker; she is a designer, a passionate collector, and a woman who has spent over thirty years cultivating her unique sources. The entire space is intentionally crafted to make you forget the modern constraints of today's fast-paced lifestyle. If you have a deep love for history and antiques, you will easily feel like pitching a tent just to camp out inside her store.
And The Icecream is to Die For
During our visit, I sat down at a turn-of-the-century round oak ice cream table, resting just four feet from a vintage 1920s soda counter. Looking at a stacked row of fluted ice cream sundae dishes, my mouth immediately started watering.
Some People Act Like Most Animals When They See Themselves in a Mirror
I was just about to place my order when I noticed a short hallway nearby that ended in a full wall of mirrors. Intrigued, I pointed toward it and asked Jennifer, "Does anybody ever think that hall is twice as long and accidentally run into themselves?" Jennifer grinned instantly. "Actually, one day a woman went down that hall and politely excused herself to the oncoming lady. When she got no answer from her own reflection, she came right back out and told me she’d just met the rudest woman in Avery County!"
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