Shop I would say that a shop is somewhere you go to have a service preformed, or only provides a single or narrowly focused good. Usually contains a workshop of some kind where the goods are made on-site for the customer. Body Shop refers to an auto repair facility (autobody shop) Wood Shop refers to a place where you can go to get custom woodworking done Coffee Shop a place you can go to get hand-made drinks Butcher's Shop a place to get custom cuts of meat Store I would say that a store is the more common American term for a place you go to buy something. They usually have many different sections and offer a wider variety of goods than a shop. The goods you purchase are usually made off-site and only stored on location. Department Store buy furnishings and clothes for each room of the house Grocery Store buy food and many other consumables Online Store buy anything! :D Source: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/9797/what-are-the-differences-between-shop-shoppe-and-store