A little shop with a big selection

Roscoe’s Little Store back in business

By Rachel Zuckerman | Manor Ink

Roscoe, NY – Trout Town has reason to be happy with the arrival of spring. Not only has the weather warmed and the fishing season started, but because a favorite shop, long shuttered, has reopened. The Little Store is back!

The original Little Store was established by the Bock family in 1945, and it has changed hands a few times over the years. But the most iconic time the store was open was when Bob Bock owned the store from the 1960s to 2007. Then it was operated by the Wood family from 2007 to 2017. After that, there was a period where the space sat empty, and was eventually divided into two storefronts. There was no Little Store for nine years – until now.

Manor Ink went to see the shop’s co-owning couple Rachael Yaeger and her partner Dylan two days before the grand opening on April 10, to see what the store was like. Walking in, you can see that there is a wide variety of categories, like camping, foods, toys, clothing, housewares and souvenirs. Yaeger showed the Ink around, describing the many items she was excited to provide to the community. Going through the different displays of items, she pointed out lots of products that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Among them were a wide selection of Asian groceries that likely can’t be found anywhere else in the Town of Rockland.

The Little Store offers many things that the community has specifically asked for as well. Rachael and Dylan had a clipboard on the door of the store for months before they opened, urging people to list items they wanted the couple to stock. Fudge, Dylan said, was a treat that was a tradition in the former store, and it was a frequent request on the list. Fishing lures and live bait for folks who are anglers were included on the clipboard, as were fishing bobbers, Little Store-themed merchandise and Pokémon cards. Roscoe doesn’t have anywhere to buy toys, and that category was also popular.

Yaeger also said she and Dylan wanted to have local flowers in the spring months. But what is the couple most excited about offering the community? “Wool socks,” said Yaeger. “Even John Bock, the old owner’s brother, said there’s no good place to get a good pair of socks.” Which is true, there wasn’t really a place to get good socks, until now.

From propane camping stoves to ink pens, even to underwear, the Little Store might need to be called the Everything Store, judging by the variety of wares they offer. Open Friday through Monday each week, the Little Store is perfect if you want to go for trinkets, things for your next camping trip and more. And so, dear reader, you now know where your next shopping spree should be!

Photos by Adam Fithers