The general store was the center of village life. It served as a community’s bank, post office, and place to meet. Early Stores and Markets takes a fascinating look at how businesses developed from the early trading post to 17th and 18th century specialty stores. Topics include: – the many roles of the storekeeper – the family of the country merchant – goods sold at the general store and how they were stored – city markets and country fairs – travelling merchants and peddlers – catalogs and advertising – the coming of the department store