Coolest Small Business in Every State
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The big chains might make billions of dollars per year, but small businesses are the backbone of America. Thousands of small businesses keep this nation running, and every state has unique local businesses.
Some of those businesses are loaded with history. Others are so strange that you would be compelled to enter if you saw it on the street. They could be historic bars, bizarre curio shops, highly acclaimed restaurants and more.
Whether you're a born-and-bred local or just passing through on your next road trip, these are the coolest small businesses in every state that are still locally owned.
Alabama: The Bright Star
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Bessesmer
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Opened in 1907, The Bright Star was originally a horseshoe-shaped bar with 25 seats. Today, they have a 330-seat establishment serving a unique mashup of Southern favorites with a Greek style.
The same family has run and operated The Bright Star since buying into the business in 1923.
Alaska: B&B Bar
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Type of business: Bar
Location: Kodiak
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: This tiny bar may not look like much from the outside (or the inside). There's just a single room with enough space for a pool table and a few bar stools. The whole joint is cash only and the menu may be limited, but hey, looks can be deceiving.
The B&B Bar has been in operation since the 1800s and is the oldest bar in Alaska. It holds the oldest liquor license in Alaska, and is one of the true local watering holes left.
Arizona: Mustache Pretzels
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Type of business: Food truck
Location: Around Scottsdale
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Mustache Pretzels is what it sounds like: Pretzels shaped like handlebar mustaches.
But these aren’t your ordinary pretzels. These have won a host of awards and were named EatThis.com’s number one “must try '' food truck in Arizona.
Despite only being open a few years, this eatery has become so popular, they’ve been able to expand to a second truck and several pop-up locations. Pretty impressive for a place with four menu items.
Arkansas: Jones Bar-B-Q Diner
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Marianna
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Jones Bar-B-Q is one of the oldest Black-owned businesses in the country, has been around for nearly 110 years, and is family owned.
In 2012, the James Beard Foundation named it an “American classic.” And when a fire nearly destroyed the historic structure in 2020, community donations quickly got the Jones family back up and running.
And all of that loyalty comes to the only menu item — pulled pork. You can get it on Wonder Bread or by the pound.
California: Soap Plant/Wacko
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Type of business: Gift shop
Location: Los Angeles
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Founded in 1971, Soap Plant/Wacko bills itself as the “second happiest place on Earth,” and it just might be.
This curio shop has a bit of everything pop culture: collector toys, vinyl records, books, wrapping paper, even taxidermy. And of course, tons of soap.
While you can shop online, locals prefer to browse the barely organized counter-culture chaos from inside the shop.
There's also also a La Luz De Jesus Gallery.
Colorado: Buckhorn Exchange
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Denver
Social: Facebook
Henry H. "Shorty Scout" Zietz was a scout who rode with Buffalo Bill and got his "Shorty" nickname from Sitting Bull himself. But that wasn’t what made him famous.
His claim to fame was his Wild West restaurant, Buckhorn Exchange.
Opened in 1893, Buckhorn Exchange serves pretty much every kind of meat you can imagine —from alligator to Rocky Mountain oysters under a backdrop of animal heads and historical artifacts.
Today, the spot is popular with locals and tourists looking to harken back to the Wild West and visit the state's oldest watering hole.
Connecticut: The Griswold Inn
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Type of business: Hotel, restaurant and tap room
Location: Essex
Social:Facebook
Why it's cool: Opened in 1776, and as one of the oldest continuously operating inns in the nation, The Griswold Inn could get by on its historic charm alone. But there’s a lot more to this spot.
Along with 34 unique rooms, the property also has a restaurant, a tap room and ocean views. Tourists come for the seaside ambience, but locals come for the events, which range from '60s night to sea shanties.
Delaware: Jessop's Tavern & Colonial Restaurant
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Type of business: Restaurant and bar
Location: New Castle
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Opened in 1994 in a building dating back to the 1600s, Jessop’s Tavern was designed as a colonial-style tap room.
While there is a restaurant on-site, locals mainly come for the beer. Jessop’s Tavern has over 200 Belgian beers on tap.
Fun fact: The building is reportedly haunted, and servers are happy to share stories about the resident ghost.
Florida: The Bubble Room
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Captiva
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Popular with locals and tourists, The Bubble Room transcends just being a local eatery to a place of chaotic energy.
There are three floors stuffed with curio and complete with trains, a tunnel of love, antiques, music, aquariums, and a gift shop.
And then there are the bubbles. The entire place is decked out in a Christmas-all-the-time theme with old-fashioned bubble lights. The servers call themselves "bubble scouts."
Georgia: The Pirate’s House
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Savannah
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: In a building that once served as an inn and meeting place for pirates, The Pirate House has embraced that tradition. While the menu is mostly classic Southern dishes, the extensive bar menu leans heavily on rum and drinks in skull-shaped cups.
The building and site date back to 1753, and rumors are that there were tunnels leading from the building to the Savannah River so pirates could unload their stolen booty in secret.
Upstairs, there's also a massive gift shop where tourists can buy T-shirts, treasure chests, pirate shot glasses, and basically every other sea-fairing souvenir you can imagine.
Hawaii: Kealopiko
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Type of business: Clothing
Location: Honolulu
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Opened in 2006, Kealopiko aims to change the way people see Hawaiian fashion by modernizing designs heavily featuring both the natural world in Hawaii and ancestral stories and beliefs.
Each piece is made by hand of high quality dies and materials. The company also gives back to local charities.
Idaho: Tracy General Store
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Type of business: Convenience shop
Location: Almo
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Originally opened in 1894 as the Eames Bros. Store, Tracy General Store is the longest continually operating business in Idaho.
Over the years, the building was expanded and a dance hall was built on the second floor. Today, local families still shop for dry goods, groceries and ice cream among antique registers and memorabilia.
Illinois: Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities
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Type of business: Curio shop
Location: Chicago
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities may be the most unique curio shop in the country.
Where others specialize in vinyl toys and lip gloss, Woolly Mammoth specializes in true oddities. They have taxidermy, funerary objects, antique medical supplies, and basically anything else that is old, curious, or downright weird. It's like a cursed magic shop, but nothing is actually cursed. Probably.
They also design and sell their own line of Woolly Mammoth gear.
Indiana: Schimpff’s Confectionery
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Type of business: Candy
Location: Jefferson
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Most people chuck candy in the cart at the grocery store checkout line, but for folks in Jefferson, Indiana, candy is an experience.
Opened in 1891, Schimpff’s Confectionery is still a functioning 1950s soda shop, complete with historic glass candy jars and soda fountain. Visitors can also visit the candy museum and, several times a week, candymakers put on candymaking demonstrations.
While they make and sell every kind of candy imaginable (from anise and clove-flavored drops to chocolate turtles), they’re most famous for their slightly spiced red hots.
Iowa: Breitbach’s Country Dining
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Balltown
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Opened in 1852, Breitbach’s Country Dining is the oldest, continually operating restaurant in Iowa. It has been owned and family-run for six generations.
In 2007, a fire completely destroyed the original building. They rebuilt. Ten months later, a second fire destroyed the new building, but that didn’t stop the Breitbachs. They operated in a makeshift building outside while rebuilding for the third time.
Today, that "gathering spot" serves as a wine-tasting room for local wines. After dining, guests can take a short walk for impressive river views or head to the Skip Breitbach Feed Store, which carries the state’s largest selection of dried plants.
Kansas: Eyegore's Odditorium and Monster Museum
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Type of business: Gift shop
Location: Cawker City
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: This unusual roadside attraction is like Disneyland for any kid (or kid at heart) who loves the macabre and unusual.
Part oddities museum — complete with aliens, monsters and the unusual — and part funky general store, Eyegore’s Odditorium and Monster Museum attracts tons of locals and tourists.
The curio shop sells ice cream, funky soda flavors on top of oddball stuff, like "butt quacks" as well as providing tons of ambience and entertainment.
Kentucky: Rabbit Hash General Store
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Type of business: Convenience store
Location: Rabbit Hash
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Affectionately known as "The Center of the Universe" for residents of the tiny, 230-person hamlet of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, the Rabbit Hash General Store is the oldest landmark in Northern Kentucky.
At its founding, the store sold all manner of goods brought up the river, and that tradition is very much alive today. While the original building burned down in 2016, it was rebuilt to historical code and is thriving. You can buy anything from brooms to handmade soap, all locally sourced.
As the center of town, the general store also serves as a gathering spot for locals.
Louisiana: Dirty Coast
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Type of business: Clothing
Location: New Orleans
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Founded in 2004, Dirty Coast became the destination for locals looking to reconnect, share a laugh, and bond after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2006.
With locally iconic shirts like "Brad Pitt for Mayor" and "Soul is Waterproof," the founders often refer to their designs as a "secret handshake" for their clever local phrasing.
Today, tourists love to stop by for T-shirts and home décor. Dirty Coast has been able to leverage its brand to help support local artists and charities, too.
Maine: Finn's Irish Pub
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Ellsworth
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: While Finn’s Irish Pub serves a host of classic Irish and New England dishes (and Guinness), many guests return for the unusual ambience.
The historic building that now holds the pub has changed hands several times over the years, with each owner putting their stamp on the place.
The most famous feature is the historic dining car located inside the building.
Maryland: Papermoon Diner
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Baltimore
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: To call the Papermoon Diner eclectic would be an understatement.
The building is an ode to all things kitsch, with mannequins in brightly colored garb everywhere, along with a huge Pez collection and a carousel. The ambience is bright, funky and maybe a little over the top.
And so is the menu. Specialty items like Cap’n Crunch and espresso milkshakes keep guests coming back.
Massachusetts: Brattle Book Shop
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Type of business: Book store
Location: Boston
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Opened in 1825, Brattle Book Shop is one of the oldest and largest bookstores in the nation. It's absolutely huge. The shop consists of three floors and houses over 250,000 items.
Today, the store focuses heavily on used books (two whole floors full of them), while also specializing in rare and antique finds. Many customers flock to the location for first editions and historic prints.
Michigan: The Raven Lounge
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Type of business: Bar
Location: Detroit
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Originally the site of a Polish bar in the 19th century, The Raven Lounge transitioned to a blues club in the 1900s. Today, it is one of the oldest blues clubs in Detroit.
While the building may be easy to pass by during the day, the spot is still lively at night. Blues musicians from all over the country have played in this historic venue.
Minnesota: The Herbivorous Butcher
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Type of business: Butcher shop...sort of.
Location: Minneapolis
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: The Herbivorous Butcher is a butcher shop without the butchering.
Run by a brother and sister duo, the store specializes in all-vegan meatless and dairy-free cheese products. Some of the most popular products include vegan jerky, chartreuse boards and meat-free starter kits.
The founders also have expanded into fried chicken.
Mississippi: Blue Front Café
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Type of business: Juke joint
Location: Bentonia
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Opened in 1948, the Blue Front Café has served as the neighborhood watering hole, grocery, blues joint and even gave haircuts throughout the segregation era.
Often during harvesting season, Blue Front Café stayed open 24 hours a day to service shift workers. After segregation ended, the café remained a local mainstay, attracting blues fans from all over the world.
Absolute legends like Robert Johnson have played in this historic building.
Missouri: Venice Café
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Type of business: Bar
Location: St. Louis
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Located in the heart of St. Louis, Venice Café is famous among locals for two things — cheap drinks and live music.
The cash-only bar has a wide selection of drinks, while local musicians play almost every night. Venice Café also brings the ambience, with eclectic local artwork stretching floor to ceiling from the inside to the outside patio area.
Montana: Bale of Hay Saloon
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Type of business: Bar
Location: Virginia City
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Built in 1862, Bale of Hay Saloon is the oldest bar in Montana.
Today, the saloon feels like stepping back into the Wild West, and the original décor survives.
Guests can sip on old-fashioned cocktails while checking out the original artwork or kitsch features like an antique fortune-telling machine. At night, the bar also hosts ghost tours.
Nebraska: Glur’s Tavern
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Columbus
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Opened in 1876, Glur’s Tavern is the oldest continuously operated tavern in Nebraska.
It was a frequent hangout of the cowboy Buffalo Bill during its lawless Wild West heyday. Today, it's locally famous for its burgers.
There is also a sand volleyball court and basketball hoop outside. Many locals stop by in the summer to grab a beer and hang out.
Nevada: Clown Motel
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Type of business: Motel
Location: Tonopah
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: The Clown Motel bills itself as "America’s scariest hotel" for good reason.
Opened in 1985 by Leona and Leroy David in memory of their father, who happened to be buried next door, the hotel originally featured their father’s collection of 150 clowns.
Today, that has exploded into more than 2,000 creepy clowns on the property. Plus, it's also located next to a cemetery largely used to lay miners to rest after a mine fire in 1911.
New Hampshire: Northfield Drive-in Theater
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Type of business: Movie theater
Location: Hinsdale
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Open for more than 72 years, the Northfield Drive-in Theater still shows movies the old-fashioned way.
For about $13 a ticket, guests can park in their cars, order snacks from the concession stand, and watch a double-feature, just like the good old days.
The drive-in gets both new and old releases and is open in the warmer months. It also features live music a few nights a week.
New Jersey: White Mana Diner
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Jersey City
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Opened in 1946 but with roots in the 1939 World's Fair, the White Mana Diner was one of the first spots in New Jersey to serve fast food.
It's the most classic kind of diner in America, and guests still slide up to the bar on red vinyl stools to order classic smash-style burgers, fries and shakes.
Cheeseburgers cost just $1.95.
New Mexico: No Scum Allowed Saloon
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Type of business: Bar
Location: White Oaks
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Originally a gold rush town, White Oaks was so well known in the Wild West era it was mentioned on "Young Guns," where it was depicted as a town of "756 respectable people, no scum allowed."
Today, White Oaks is mostly a ghost town. For years, the remaining residents visited the No Scum Allowed Saloon on the honor system, fetching a key from outside, pouring their own drinks and leaving the cash behind.
Today, under the saloon’s first female owner, the bar is livelier and quickly becoming a tourist destination.
New York: Mysterious Bookshop
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Type of business: Bookstore
Location: New York City
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Billing itself as the "world’s oldest and greatest mystery fiction specialty store," it probably isn’t a surprise what the Mysterious Bookshop specializes in.
The store carries a wide range of both popular and rare mystery books. They also host crime clubs giving customers access to signed first editions, regular book clubs and other events.
North Carolina: Scoops Ice Cream and Such
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Type of business: Ice cream shop
Location: Mount Airy
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Located in a small shed with plenty of outdoor seating, Scoops Ice Cream and Such serves Mayfield Ice Cream with a twist.
Beyond the usual 24 flavors, customers love this quick-serve spot for the sundaes. The strawberry sundae, for example, is topped with locally grown berries.
North Dakota: Peacock Alley
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Bismarck
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Located in downtown Bismarck in a historic building, Peacock Alley is a much-loved local establishment and the oldest restaurant in North Dakota.
The restaurant offers a massive menu stretching from breakfast to dessert from BLTs to crab rangoon.
The spot also has become a bit of a local hangout as they offer private rooms and meeting spots for workers in the downtown area.
Ohio: E.E. Ward Moving and Storage
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Type of business: Transportation
Location: Columbus
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: E.E. Ward Moving and Storage is the oldest Black-owned business in America.
It was founded by John T. Ward, who worked as a conductor on the underground railroad. In 1881, he and his son, William, founded the transportation company with just two horses and a wagon — the same kind of transport John used to help slaves escape.
In the 1920s, they transported nearly 900,000 pianos for Steinway. Today, they offer relocation services for businesses, corporations and households.
Oklahoma: Eischen’s Bar
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Okarche
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: The oldest bar in Oklahoma, Eischen’s Bar, was founded in 1896, closed shortly for Prohibition, and has remained mostly open since.
The bar has been a stop for several country music stars, including Vince Gill and Garth Brooks. But the celebrity appeal isn’t what makes it famous with locals. Neither are the drinks on tap.
Today, most folks stop by for the food, especially the fried chicken.
Oregon: Rimsky-Korsakoffee House
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Type of business: Coffee shop
Location: Portland
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: It's difficult to stand out as a coffee shop in the Pacific Northwest, but the Rimsky-Korsakoffee House found a way to do so through desserts, classical composers and slightly macabre ambience.
Located in a large craftsman bungalow in a former industrial area, the coffee shop is a neighborhood classic. In addition to coffee, the owner also serves up in-house-made desserts.
Classical music performances aren’t uncommon. And then there's the Erik Satie-themed bathroom. Not enough? The owner swears the building is haunted.
Pennsylvania: Church Brew Works
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Type of business: Brewery and pub
Location: Pittsburgh
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Located inside an actual church, this historic brewery has heavy ties to the past.
Today, the large open church space has been turned into a banquet hall serving up world-class food along with on-site brews. Church Brew Works has won several awards, including the Great American Beer Festival 2012 Large Brewpub of the Year.
Rhode Island: The Fantastic Umbrella Factory
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Type of business: Farm/attraction
Location: Charlestown
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: The Fantastic Umbrella Factory is a complex of several stores, all set on a 250-year-old farm that is dotted with weird sculptures.
The business features a café, food truck, general store, a hippie thrift shop, a henna body art station, a candle shop and a garden nursery. Their "anchor store," Small Axe Productions, sells blown glass, pottery, jewelry and other handmade items.
There's also a petting zoo with two goats, three emus, chickens and ducks.
South Carolina: Villa Tronco
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Columbia
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: As the oldest restaurant in South Carolina, Villa Tronco has been serving up classic Italian dishes for more than 80 years.
Many of the items on the menu today were invented by the first owners. Still family-owned, the restaurant, which is set inside a historic firehouse, has expanded its offerings and now customers can hear live classic music on the floor several nights a week.
South Dakota: Look’s Market
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Type of business: Market
Location: Sioux Falls
Social: Instagram
Why it's cool: Originally opened in 1883, Look’s Market has changed hands several times over the years, but every owner has been determined to provide the highest quality ingredients around.
Today, the market offers a butcher, bakery, dry goods and grocery, and prepared food section. Locals love it for the quality of the offerings, modernized building and ever-so-slightly hipster ambience.
Tennessee: High Point Restaurant
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Monteagle
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Located inside a 1929 Tudor-style mansion, High Point Restaurant is a popular place for locals to go when they’re looking for seafood or an aged steak. And while everyone says the food is very good, that isn’t the only thing that makes this place cool.
Local legend has it, the original mansion was once a pit stop for Al Capone. The home had a rooftop escape hatch and tunnels built underground to transport moonshine during Prohibition.
Texas: Scholz Garten
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Type of business: Bar
Location: Austin
Social: Scholz Garten
Why it's cool: Originally founded as a café in 1866, Scholz Garten has seen several changes over the years, but it has always been a spot for locals to gather and hang out.
Given its location by the state capitol building, it's also a popular spot for politicians. According to local legend, the liberals would gather outside while the conservatives huddled up inside. Today, it serves as a restaurant, watering hole and music venue.
Utah: Shooting Star Saloon
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Type of business: Bar
Location: Huntsville
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Opening its doors in 1879, the Shooting Star Saloon is Utah’s oldest bar and the oldest continually operating bar west of the Mississippi. Today, the building’s original Western façade has gotten some minor updating, but inside and out, the charm remains.
Beyond the cash-only bar, locals also love it for its limited menu: hamburgers, beer, soda and chips. But no fries.
Vermont: Ye Olde Tavern
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Manchester Center
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Originally a stagecoach inn, Ye Olde Tavern first opened its doors in 1790. Today, the main business is a thriving restaurant. Locals and tourists alike still flock to the place for both the food and the ambience.
Full of classic Colonial charm, the original inn and the grounds are expertly maintained, giving the feeling of stepping back in time.
Virginia: Red Fox Inn and Tavern
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Type of business: Inn
Location: Middleburg
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Situated between the Bull Run and Blue Ridge Mountains, the Red Fox Inn and Tavern has been open since 1728. The inn has hosted some seriously famous guests as well.
John F. Kennedy hosted a news conference in the upper rooms, while Jackie O frequently stayed as a guest. Today, guests can stay in the boutique inn or dine on the terrace.
Washington: Twede's Cafe
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Type of business: Cafe
Location: North Bend
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: "That's a damn fine cup of coffee," is something that has been repeated ad nauseum in this mountain town's cafe. Why? Because it was the Mar-T Cafe as seen in the cult-favorite television show, "Twin Peaks."
The restaurant served as the model for the Double R Diner, too, which was recreated in a soundstage for most of the filming. While it was known as the Mar-T Cafe for quite some time, the business was sold in 1998 and renamed. Then a fire gutted the cafe and the owners put it back together looking nothing like the "Twins Peaks" restaurant, which sorely disappointed fans.
But then, in 2015, "Twin Peaks" was revived for another season, and the show's production company paid them to remodel the coffee shop back to its classic Double R Diner look.
West Virginia: O’Hurleys General Store
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Type of business: Convenience store
Location: Shepherdstown
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: At more than 100 years old, O’Hurleys is a true general store.
Inside the store, customers can find a huge selection of new and vintage items — everything from vinyl records to clothing.
Plus, there's a working blacksmith shop on site. And several times a week, the store is host to live music.
Wisconsin: Wizard Quest
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Type of business: Theme park
Location: Wisconsin Dells
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: Wizard Quest isn’t your run-of-the-mill amusement park. Instead of long lines, roller coasters, and over-priced concessions, guests are greeted by a wizard-themed world of imagination.
Often described as a real-life video game, guests of all ages work through 13,000 square feet, solving puzzles, encountering trap doors and landing in ball pits.
There's also a Ripley's Believe It or Not attraction that takes up three floors and includes over 200 artifacts.
Wyoming: Miners and Stockman’s Steakhouse
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Type of business: Restaurant
Location: Hartville
Social: Facebook
Why it's cool: As Wyoming’s oldest bar, Miners and Stockman’s Steakhouse is full of old-time charm and beloved by locals.
Rather than stick to one boring menu, the steakhouse regularly updates it with specials posted to Facebook. Everything is made in-house and features both world-class desserts and, of course, loads of steaks.