*The pickleball gang—just some of the regulars at the Shoreham General Store*

Spend a Friday morning at the Shoreham General Store and you’ll see our village at its best. Rising over the hum of the coffee machine, laughter ripples infectiously as a wide range of regulars gather to catch up and tell stories.

The day the SCA called in there was a group of male and female pickleball players on the veranda, fresh from a game at the tennis courts (see photo above).

What began four years ago as two women having a hit and a giggle has grown into organised play across four courts on Fridays, Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays — with the super‑keen playing at other times too. There’s a coach, competitions, drills and even a ball machine.

To top off the joy of movement, connection and social interaction, there’s a treasured tradition to uphold: après‑pickleball coffee at the General Store.

Its menu caters for everyone, with a range of hot and cold drinks, along with home‑cooked favourites often using manager, Jacinta Marchant’s mum’s recipes. Think milkshakes, scones, jam, coconut slice and choc crackles, toasties and sausage rolls. Quality ingredients, sourced locally where possible, are a priority.

There are always vegetarian options and an impressive selection of gluten‑friendly sweets. Heat‑at‑home meals are coming soon.

Nestled within Shoreham’s village precinct, the General Store first opened in 1951 and operated until the late ‘80s as the local shop selling basic provisions like milk, as well as newspapers, take away food and petrol. The post office was further down Byrnes Road on the corner with Cliff Road.

After a consortium bought the site in 2006 and proposed a redevelopment of it to which much of the community objected, the store lay vacant for about 15 years.

In 2023 it reopened with the original tables and counters restored, cable spools and fruit boxes sourced locally, and the 1950s floorboards retained. The façade and fascia sign have been faithfully reproduced to echo the original.

“My dream is that the General Store remains a part of Shoreham’s history,” Jacinta says. “And to provide a location that can support the community [with] a warm and inviting place to shop and come to meet friends.”

Now that the Shoreham post office has moved to one end of it, the General Store is the collection hub for locals without home letterboxes. Mail and parcel pickup has turned into its own lively, friendly, occasionally chaotic daily ritual.

The parade of items passing through is endlessly entertaining: everything from Tiffany to Temu, toilet rolls and toilet seats, Swedish ladies’ undies, live predatory insects for pest control, wine in and wine out (a lot of this), and even live queen bees travelling with their loyal worker‑bee entourage. It’s part post office, part social club, part show‑and‑tell; and it adds a whole new layer of charm to the morning buzz.

Wander into the Shoreham General Store on any given morning and you’ll probably see them: the Coffee Crew. There’s no roster, president, or even start time, but, somehow, the Crew members all manage to appear like clockwork.

It’s a mostly‑male crowd, though wives, kids, and grandkids are always welcome. Many have known each other since school, surfing years or family connections. Now that most are retired — former teachers, school principals and even a couple of ex pro surfers — they’ve simply exchanged workplaces for the store’s welcoming tables.

Don’t be fooled by the banter. Yes, they give each other a hard time and the teasing is relentless. The volume sometimes rivals a footy club change room. But underneath the rough‑and‑ready exterior they are a genuinely caring bunch. They check in on each other, send messages when someone’s missing, and quietly keep an eye on anyone going through a tough patch.

For many, this daily ritual is more than just a caffeine hit. It’s habit, its connection, it’s mental health maintenance. And if you ever want to know anything about Shoreham — the history, the characters, the “you didn’t hear it from me” stories — this is the table to sit alongside. The Coffee Crew doubles as the town’s living archives.

Some of the clientele come from further afield. A lovely group of local ladies meet on the veranda twice a week with their handsome doggies. Though they live just outside Shoreham, the women choose to support local businesses and are drawn to the store for its warm welcome and friendly atmosphere.

Long‑time friends, they share many interests including dog‑walking, lunches, a love of animals, and the regular coffee catch‑ups have become a cherished ritual.

When the SCA caught up with the women, there were rescue greyhounds Jack and Oliver, little rescue Fudge, and elegant Rhu, a milestone‑birthday gift and a very photogenic addition to the group.

Recently, the Shoreham General Store was featured in The Age Good Food Guide with a glowing review and strong recommendation — a fantastic recognition for our local favourite.

Through the door of the General Store

Kate Skvor, horticulturalist