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Buying local supports our neighbors as we all strive to make better communities. You’ve probably decided to buy American-made products whenever possible. It’s easier when you shop at the American Made General Stores in Pocahontas and Brookland, Arkansas.
Chad Overman, an Iraq War veteran, opened the first American Made General Store in Pocahontas in 2018. Overman’s patriotic attitude and love for America led him to create a store filled entirely with American-made products.
“I think almost everyone in America wants to buy American-made products and knows the significance and the benefits if more products are made in the USA. It’s very obvious in this pandemic that we cannot produce all of one thing overseas. Our country needs to be well-rounded in manufacturing to where if we did have a major event or global war, our hands would not be tied. I felt that if a store made it more convenient to purchase American-made products, then more American-made products would be sold.”
What is ‘Made in the USA?’
Some manufactures claim a product is American-made when just 75% of their labor cost is in the USA, regardless of where the materials originate. When you shop the American Made General Store you don’t have to look at labels. Their policy for what qualifies as American-made is very clear.
Made in the USA means:
- Completely manufactured in America
- Manufactured in America using global components
- Assembled in America, with at least 75% of ingredients made in the USA
The American Made General Store has over 10,000 different products sourced from all 50 states, including Arkansas. Favorite Arkansas-made products include cutting boards, pocket knives, jams, muscadine juice, candles and chocolate gravy.
When you step into the American Made General Store, Overman hopes you immediately recognize it resembles an old-time general store.
“Hopefully, my store’s general store feel will bring back a little nostalgia and good memories [the customer] might have had as a child.”
Overman recognizes that it will take a long time for his stores to make a difference. Unfortunately, since their opening, over a dozen companies they were buying from have shut down their factories. Overman hopes to open enough stores to stop the loss of our needed manufacturing jobs.
A third location of the American Made General Store opens in late October outside of Springfield, Missouri. And a fourth location opens in the area between Beebe and Conway in 2022. Future locations could include Fort Smith and Texarkana.
What can you buy there?
When you step inside the American Made General Store, you discover an incredible collection of glass bottled milk, novelty sodas, jams, jellies, local meats and cheeses, local fruits and vegetables, toys, household items, home decor and more – all made in America.
The stores’ cafes are also the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. In Pocahontas, you can enjoy burgers and homecooked meals all day long. The Brookland store offers sandwiches, subs and ice cream from The Spring Dipper in Mammoth Spring.
Your purchase at the American Made Store supports the local economy and the American economy. When we buy just 1% more American-made, we help to keep more than 200,000 Americans employed in American companies that produce American-made products! That’s something we can all get behind.
Visit one of the American Made General Store locations or shop online.
1100 Pace Road, Pocahontas
6651 HWY 49 N., Brookland
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[…] American Made Store – With locations in Brookland and Pocahontas and a few new ones on the way, the American Made Store is your one-stop-shop for all things American Made. The general-store feel will make you feel like you have stepped back in time. Still, the selection rivals most of your favorite shops and everything, including a large selection of American flags and flag flying accessories, meets their strict American-made standards. […]
[…] owned and built, the American Made General Store’s flagship location is located in Pocahontas. This unique store feels like an old-time general store […]
Is the Conway location open? I’m looking for products specifically made in Arkansas.