Winona Ryder’s Character brings Jackson to life

As we take you on a journey through the filming locations of Stranger Things, one of the standout spots you'll get to visit is the Melvald’s General Store on 2nd Street in Jackson, Georgia. This real-life drugstore played a pivotal role in the show's plot as the setting for Melvald's General Store, where Winona Ryder's character Joyce works full-time.

Throughout the first two seasons, the store was regularly featured as a key location where Joyce could purchase the necessary equipment to communicate with her son Will, who had disappeared in the Upside-Down. The store's importance in the plot made it a must-visit location for the Stranger Things production team, who were on the lookout for the perfect filming spots in the Atlanta area.

For Ryder, the role of Joyce was a chance to make a comeback in Hollywood, and she delivered a powerful performance as a mother searching for her missing child. To build her character, she drew inspiration from Meryl Streep's look in Silkwood, and her portrayal of a mother fighting to bring her son home also reflected her own activism against child abduction.

As you visit the Jackson on our Stranger Tours, you'll get to see firsthand how the store's authentic charm and vintage interior made it the perfect setting for Melvald's General Store. And you'll also get to step into the shoes of Winona Ryder's character, and imagine what it must have been like for Joyce to search for her son amidst the strange and otherworldly happenings of Hawkins, Indiana. So come with us on our Stranger Tours, and discover the magic of the Jackson and all the other iconic filming locations that make Stranger Things the beloved show that is.

Tags: Stranger Things, Winona Ryder, Jackson, Georgia, Stranger Tours, Stranger set, filming location, film