↑

  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Main Dish
      • Casseroles
      • Main Dishes: Beef
      • Main Dishes: Pork
      • Main Dishes: Poultry
      • Main Dishes: Vegetarian
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Holidays
  • Travel
  • Fitness & Health
    • health
    • free workouts
    • buy chanelle’s eBook!
    • shop chanelle’s faves
  • Pets
  • Crafts & DIY
  • Lifestyle
    • entertainment
    • home decor
    • productivity
    • style & beauty

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

  • About Us
  • Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Eat Move Make

food | travel | lifestyle

  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Main Dish
      • Casseroles
      • Main Dishes: Beef
      • Main Dishes: Pork
      • Main Dishes: Poultry
      • Main Dishes: Vegetarian
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Holidays
  • Travel
  • Fitness & Health
    • health
    • free workouts
    • buy chanelle’s eBook!
    • shop chanelle’s faves
  • Pets
  • Crafts & DIY
  • Lifestyle
    • entertainment
    • home decor
    • productivity
    • style & beauty
Home » Travel » Nostalgia Awaits in Natchitoches’ Old General Store

Nostalgia Awaits in Natchitoches’ Old General Store

By: Liz  /  Published: August 24, 2020  /  Updated: December 24, 2020  /   Leave a comment

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Share
  • Tweet

Relive the nostalgia of childhood with a visit to Kaffie-Frederick, the old general store, in the heart of historic downtown Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Kaffie-Frederick general store in Natchitoches

display in Kaffie-Frederick store

From door-to-door to brick and mortar store

The business was founded in 1863 when immigrant brothers, Adolph and Harris Kaffie, decided to expand their successful peddling business into a storefront selling general merchandise for farm and home. The mercantile survived both World Wars and the Great Depression and continues to be a thriving community landmark today.

Currently being run by 4th generation brothers, Sydney and Luke Frederick (along with Luke’s wife Lori), this Natchitoches general store is a favorite of locals and travelers alike.

man standing in hardware store

Sydney Frederick

Some things never change at Kaffie-Frederick

Though plenty has changed over the years—there used to be a wall between the men’s hardware and the women’s housewares sections—much has not. 

When Sydney Frederick was asked if things get rearranged much, he answered without a moment’s hesitation. “Items are staying where they are. They’re not moving, they’re not moving.”

In fact, the nail bins are in the exact same spot they’ve always been and from the sounds of it, they’ll rest there forevermore.

nail bins

Many of the store’s most popular items are in the hardware section—keys, nails, shovels, plumbing supplies, broomsticks and replacement handles. Even Lowe’s can’t compete with this beloved institution; they opened a store in town but ended up closing it.

hardware supplies in store

Outside of hardware the biggest sellers are cast iron skillets, Dutch ovens and marbles. Sydney said, “We sell a ton of marbles. People play marbles and they also display them.”

I couldn’t resist checking out the marbles myself to see what the big deal was and I have to say, the appeal is timeless. The nostalgia of the game and the beautiful designs… yep, I get it.

Guess who went home with some marbles?

marbles

marble display

Treasures too good to miss

Louisiana’s oldest general store is as much a museum as it is a general mercantile. The store displays vintage goods, toys and photos from yesteryear above the bins and shelves full of hardware, kitchen supplies, classic toys and gifts currently for sale.

vintage photos on display

vintage products on shelf

Look up! The skylights in the front and back were the only source of natural light as the store was built before electricity. The second-floor ceiling was made of glass to allow the light in. 

skylight

Look for the old cotton bale scale in the rear of the store. Kaffie-Frederick was a cotton broker from the 1880’s through the mid 20th century; they purchased cotton from local farmers and sold them to cotton buyers from the textile mills.

scale for cotton bales

And last but not least, be sure to buy something so you can see one of the two original hand-cranked cash registers still in use. They’re marvelous!

old cash register

This 1917 cash register is still used for every sale.

antique cash register

This 1913 cash register is located in the hardware department

Vestiges of a bygone era mingle seamlessly with modern must-haves in the Kaffie-Frederick General Store and it’s definitely a must-see when visiting Natchitoches and Central Louisiana. 

And if you can’t stop in just yet, they do mail order by request. You know you need some marbles… 

Kaffie-Frederick Mercantile Store

758 Front Street
Natchitoches, LA 71457
(318) 352-2525
Open daily Mon-Sat
Website

Natchitoches Old General Store - Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile

Other Louisiana destinations you may enjoy:

Things to Do in Baton Rouge

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou

Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail

Creole Nature Trail

New Orleans 5 Day Itinerary

Related topics
Louisiana Travelgeneral stores Kaffie-Frederick Louisiana Natchitoches

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

recipes in your inbox

Subscribe for the latest updates

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

The Latest

salted caramel thumbprints

Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

bowl of mulligan stew

Mulligan Stew Recipe

stack of raspberry brownies

Raspberry Brownies

wicker furniture on porch

Martha Washington Inn & Spa – THE Place to Stay in Abingdon VA

inside Burney's

Dang Good Dining in Duplin County NC

spinach black bean lasagna slice on plate

Black Bean Lasagna with Spinach

Eat Move Make is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.

This means that some posts may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you purchase through these links, which helps us create more great content! Full terms of use here.

Footer

Meet Liz

Hey there, i’m Liz!

I’m the founder of Eat Move Make and a North Carolina mom of two humans and six cats. I love to cook, bake, craft and travel. I’m also addicted to tea (but not sweet tea).

When I’m not creating something in my kitchen, and since my kids are now adults, I’m all about my bucket list of travel destinations and adventures.

recipes in your inbox

Subscribe for the latest updates

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.
©2021, Eat Move Make / About / Terms Of Use / Privacy Policy / Site by Pixel Me Designs