Shelby Forest General Store

Behold, a magic grill that makes magic burgers inside a general store!Where do I start?The Shelby Forest General Store is on the outskirts of Memphis, on the west side of Millington, right there on the edge of the park. It's a destination for celebrities and international tourists. One guy I spoke with said he drove 500 miles to get a juicy cheeseburger as he took a bite.The general store began as a dry goods store for rural neighborhood essentials in 1954. Kristin and Doug Ammons have owned it since 2002 and they make you feel like home. There's bait and tackle, taxidermy, snake skins draped above grocery shelves, soda pop, BC powder, golf frisbees, chewing gum, jams, jellies, fresh fried pies and more. Their world-famous cheeseburgers are $3.99 and sell like hotcakes. There are other comfort foods like Philly cheesesteaks, fries and ,instead of their wildly popular $15.99 Steak Night with a band, those cuts of meat are now Ziplocked in a secret marinade to cook at home during the pandemic. When you get your order to-go, it's in a brown paper bag like the old days. Or you can sit on the outdoor deck. It's a total getaway. You can make a day of it and go boat paddling at Meeman-Shelby Forest. Or do what I did and have a picnic with a table cloth and real glasses at the park. SFGS is not just a general store, it's an experience just 15 miles from downtown Memphis.#ThankYouThursday

We had a great meal here. Nothing fancy about the food by any means, in fact quite the opposite but that's just fine! It is what it is and it's good. The owners are very nice and are genuinely hospitable. She took our orders and interacted with us with that small town feel. It's like she knew us or wanted to get to know us better. She asked where we were from, if we had been there before, what kind of things we liked. Very nice!We were the only ones in the place when we got there but it quickly got busy with three other families arriving. She called her husband over from somewhere nearby and they began tag teaming all of the guests together along with the cook. Very efficient for three people total. We sat outside under the trees and enjoyed our meals. The "seasoned fries" were not at all what I was expecting but I loved them! My burger was solid although it's a frozen factory type. My wife liked her fried bologna sandwich a lot. We will return if ever in the area again. It's absolutely worth a visit just to check it out.Oh yea... we got free fried pies for being first timers! Win!!!

So, I've been a patron of this landmark since the 1980-s. The current owners are kind, helpful, and great company. Also, the food that they put out on their griddle is worth the wait! They get super busy on nice weekends. Small businesses like this won't last without the customers who support them. Fortunately, they didn't permanently close, but I understand that it was a close call. I try to make it up to their location as much as I can. The best times to go there are on rainy days, when things are slow. Also, instead of going to Kroger, I'll buy as many groceries as I can from the Shelby Forest General Store. You'd be surprised how helpful that is for this mom & pop institution!

I love this store. The food and service were excellent. Ended up also purchasing the Huckleberry jam. It was very busy when we went but none the less an excellent experience. Shrimp Po Boy hit the spot. So many other restaurants cannot make a delicious Shrimp Po Boy. Definitely going back.

Local flavor at its best. Owners are characters and good for conversation and local happenings. Support the local economy and stop by for a biscuit and cup of coffee!

Y'all the food here is TO DIE FOR! Go on a morning hike at the state park and then come here for lunch. You won't regret it!! Cheeseburger, fries, and an ice cold IBC root beer after a hike is pure heaven. Plus the family that works there is just the sweetest! Don't miss it!!!

The hubby and I saw the big sign off the 51. We were pleasantly surprised! It's very quaint with outdoor seating. I had the eggs, ham and fries. The burger my husband got looked awesome! Both were delicious! The general store supports local vendors of decor and canned goods! Along with other needed items. The staff was so nice! I didn't ask but I think they were the owners. I wish I took pictures. We will definitely be going back! This is great spot with a great hometown vibe!

This place is amazing! It has the charm of an old country general store... oh, it is! Kodos to the owner for keeping this place running. I could tell this is the community's base. The staff knew everyone, gave all customers equal attention and served up some stupidly delicious food. They are famous for their burgers and rightfully so. They are cooked on an old griddle that I am sure contributes to the flavor. The buns are soft and sweet. The fries are crisped perfectly and the fried pies took me back to my granny's kitchen in Sparta, TN! This place is definitely worth the drive. I love this place.

Food and service are always amazing!! I've been coming here since I was a child and it's never changed, always warm and welcoming !

Good, simple food & staff is very personable. A little out of my way, but enjoy the little things you can't find in a chain store.