One in which miscellaneous small articles are sold.
1818. One indication of a new country is, that the shops are variety-shops; each one keeping piece-goods, groceries, cutlery, porcelain, and stationary [sic] in different corners; there not yet being that partition in trade, which we meet in older states.—Henry C. Knight (‘Arthur Singleton’), ‘Letters from the South and West,’ p. 84 (Boston, 1824).
1829. [The collected trumpery] gives the Mayor’s office the appearance of a “variety store.”—Mass. Spy, Nov. 11.
1842. A “variety store,” offering for sale every possible article of merchandise, from lace gloves to goose-yokes,—ox-chains, tea-cups, boots and bonnets inclusive,—displayed its tempting sign.—Mrs. Kirkland, ‘Forest Life,’ i. 149.
*** The modern “variety store” in a city does not include such things as are mentioned in the examples.
