diff --git a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
index 7329bee5c..a5268bce6 100644
--- a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
+++ b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
 #include "nix/util/serialise.hh"
 #include "nix/store/build-result.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/util/strings.hh"
 #include "nix/store/derivations.hh"
 #include "nix/store/local-store.hh"
diff --git a/src/libcmd/command.cc b/src/libcmd/command.cc
index f7aeb739b..31f64fd5a 100644
--- a/src/libcmd/command.cc
+++ b/src/libcmd/command.cc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/markdown.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/local-fs-store.hh"
 #include "nix/store/derivations.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/nixexpr.hh"
diff --git a/src/libcmd/common-eval-args.cc b/src/libcmd/common-eval-args.cc
index f2881ca2b..e087678c2 100644
--- a/src/libcmd/common-eval-args.cc
+++ b/src/libcmd/common-eval-args.cc
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include "nix/fetchers/registry.hh"
 #include "nix/flake/flakeref.hh"
 #include "nix/flake/settings.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
 #include "nix/fetchers/tarball.hh"
 #include "nix/fetchers/fetch-to-store.hh"
diff --git a/src/libcmd/repl.cc b/src/libcmd/repl.cc
index 28d475415..f9ac59d36 100644
--- a/src/libcmd/repl.cc
+++ b/src/libcmd/repl.cc
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #include "nix/expr/eval-settings.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/attr-path.hh"
 #include "nix/util/signals.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/log-store.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/common-eval-args.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/get-drvs.hh"
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchClosure.cc b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchClosure.cc
index d28680ae5..4dd8b2606 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchClosure.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchClosure.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include "nix/expr/primops.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/realisation.hh"
 #include "nix/store/make-content-addressed.hh"
 #include "nix/util/url.hh"
diff --git a/src/libstore-c/nix_api_store.cc b/src/libstore-c/nix_api_store.cc
index d49e7722b..b7b437e9c 100644
--- a/src/libstore-c/nix_api_store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore-c/nix_api_store.cc
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include "nix/store/path.hh"
 #include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/build-result.hh"
 
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
diff --git a/src/libstore-test-support/include/nix/store/tests/libstore.hh b/src/libstore-test-support/include/nix/store/tests/libstore.hh
index 466b6f9b1..822ec3aa8 100644
--- a/src/libstore-test-support/include/nix/store/tests/libstore.hh
+++ b/src/libstore-test-support/include/nix/store/tests/libstore.hh
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <gmock/gmock.h>
 
 #include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
index 0b912357e..c553eeedb 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/build/worker.hh"
 #include "nix/store/build/substitution-goal.hh"
 #include "nix/util/callback.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
index e24dd7e64..2b4b8ac25 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "nix/store/build/worker.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/build/substitution-goal.hh"
 #include "nix/store/nar-info.hh"
 #include "nix/util/finally.hh"
diff --git a/src/libstore/dummy-store.cc b/src/libstore/dummy-store.cc
index 68786b31b..819c47bab 100644
--- a/src/libstore/dummy-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/dummy-store.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 #include "nix/util/callback.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
diff --git a/src/libstore/http-binary-cache-store.cc b/src/libstore/http-binary-cache-store.cc
index da8b9e18e..2b591dda9 100644
--- a/src/libstore/http-binary-cache-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/http-binary-cache-store.cc
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
 #include "nix/store/nar-info-disk-cache.hh"
 #include "nix/util/callback.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/meson.build b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/meson.build
index 5298b77a6..c5aa9b461 100644
--- a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/meson.build
+++ b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/meson.build
@@ -66,16 +66,18 @@ headers = [config_pub_h] + files(
   'restricted-store.hh',
   's3-binary-cache-store.hh',
   's3.hh',
-  'ssh-store.hh',
   'serve-protocol-connection.hh',
   'serve-protocol-impl.hh',
   'serve-protocol.hh',
   'sqlite.hh',
+  'ssh-store.hh',
   'ssh.hh',
   'store-api.hh',
   'store-cast.hh',
   'store-dir-config.hh',
+  'store-open.hh',
   'store-reference.hh',
+  'store-registration.hh',
   'uds-remote-store.hh',
   'worker-protocol-connection.hh',
   'worker-protocol-impl.hh',
diff --git a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-api.hh b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-api.hh
index fb93c7178..1648b13c1 100644
--- a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-api.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-api.hh
@@ -888,99 +888,6 @@ StorePath resolveDerivedPath(Store &, const SingleDerivedPath &, Store * evalSto
 OutputPathMap resolveDerivedPath(Store &, const DerivedPath::Built &, Store * evalStore = nullptr);
 
 
-/**
- * @return a Store object to access the Nix store denoted by
- * ‘uri’ (slight misnomer...).
- */
-ref<Store> openStore(StoreReference && storeURI);
-
-
-/**
- * Opens the store at `uri`, where `uri` is in the format expected by `StoreReference::parse`
-
- */
-ref<Store> openStore(const std::string & uri = settings.storeUri.get(),
-    const Store::Config::Params & extraParams = Store::Config::Params());
-
-
-/**
- * @return the default substituter stores, defined by the
- * ‘substituters’ option and various legacy options.
- */
-std::list<ref<Store>> getDefaultSubstituters();
-
-struct StoreFactory
-{
-    /**
-     * Documentation for this type of store.
-     */
-    std::string doc;
-
-    /**
-     * URIs with these schemes should be handled by this factory
-     */
-    StringSet uriSchemes;
-
-    /**
-     * An experimental feature this type store is gated, if it is to be
-     * experimental.
-     */
-    std::optional<ExperimentalFeature> experimentalFeature;
-
-    /**
-     * The `authorityPath` parameter is `<authority>/<path>`, or really
-     * whatever comes after `<scheme>://` and before `?<query-params>`.
-     */
-    std::function<ref<StoreConfig>(
-        std::string_view scheme, std::string_view authorityPath, const Store::Config::Params & params)>
-        parseConfig;
-
-    /**
-     * Just for dumping the defaults. Kind of awkward this exists,
-     * because it means we cannot require fields to be manually
-     * specified so easily.
-     */
-    std::function<ref<StoreConfig>()> getConfig;
-};
-
-struct Implementations
-{
-    using Map = std::map<std::string, StoreFactory>;
-
-    static Map & registered();
-
-    template<typename TConfig>
-    static void add()
-    {
-        StoreFactory factory{
-            .doc = TConfig::doc(),
-            .uriSchemes = TConfig::uriSchemes(),
-            .experimentalFeature = TConfig::experimentalFeature(),
-            .parseConfig =
-                ([](auto scheme, auto uri, auto & params)
-                 -> ref<StoreConfig>
-                 { return make_ref<TConfig>(scheme, uri, params); }),
-            .getConfig =
-                ([]() -> ref<StoreConfig>
-                 { return make_ref<TConfig>(Store::Config::Params{}); }),
-        };
-        auto [it, didInsert] = registered().insert({TConfig::name(), std::move(factory)});
-        if (!didInsert) {
-            throw Error("Already registred store with name '%s'", it->first);
-        }
-    }
-};
-
-template<typename TConfig>
-struct RegisterStoreImplementation
-{
-    RegisterStoreImplementation()
-    {
-        Implementations::add<TConfig>();
-    }
-};
-
-
 /**
  * Display a set of paths in human-readable form (i.e., between quotes
  * and separated by commas).
diff --git a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-open.hh b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-open.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b3460cbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-open.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#pragma once
+/**
+ * @file
+ *
+ * For opening a store described by an `StoreReference`, which is an "untyped"
+ * notion which needs to be decoded against a collection of specific
+ * implementations.
+ *
+ * For consumers of the store registration machinery defined in
+ * `store-registration.hh`. Not needed by store implementation definitions, or
+ * usages of a given `Store` which will be passed in.
+ */
+
+#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+
+namespace nix {
+
+/**
+ * @return a Store object to access the Nix store denoted by
+ * ‘uri’ (slight misnomer...).
+ */
+ref<Store> openStore(StoreReference && storeURI);
+
+/**
+ * Opens the store at `uri`, where `uri` is in the format expected by
+ * `StoreReference::parse`
+ */
+ref<Store> openStore(
+    const std::string & uri = settings.storeUri.get(),
+    const StoreReference::Params & extraParams = StoreReference::Params());
+
+/**
+ * @return the default substituter stores, defined by the
+ * ‘substituters’ option and various legacy options.
+ */
+std::list<ref<Store>> getDefaultSubstituters();
+
+}
diff --git a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-registration.hh b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-registration.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f82ff51c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/store-registration.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+#pragma once
+/**
+ * @file
+ *
+ * Infrastructure for "registering" store implementations. Used by the
+ * store implementation definitions themselves but not by consumers of
+ * those implementations.
+ *
+ * Consumers of an arbitrary store from a URL/JSON configuration instead
+ * just need the defintions `nix/store/store-open.hh`; those do use this
+ * but only as an implementation. Consumers of a specific extra type of
+ * store can skip both these, and just use the definition of the store
+ * in question directly.
+ */
+
+#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+
+namespace nix {
+
+struct StoreFactory
+{
+    /**
+     * Documentation for this type of store.
+     */
+    std::string doc;
+
+    /**
+     * URIs with these schemes should be handled by this factory
+     */
+    StringSet uriSchemes;
+
+    /**
+     * An experimental feature this type store is gated, if it is to be
+     * experimental.
+     */
+    std::optional<ExperimentalFeature> experimentalFeature;
+
+    /**
+     * The `authorityPath` parameter is `<authority>/<path>`, or really
+     * whatever comes after `<scheme>://` and before `?<query-params>`.
+     */
+    std::function<ref<StoreConfig>(
+        std::string_view scheme, std::string_view authorityPath, const Store::Config::Params & params)>
+        parseConfig;
+
+    /**
+     * Just for dumping the defaults. Kind of awkward this exists,
+     * because it means we cannot require fields to be manually
+     * specified so easily.
+     */
+    std::function<ref<StoreConfig>()> getConfig;
+};
+
+struct Implementations
+{
+    using Map = std::map<std::string, StoreFactory>;
+
+    static Map & registered();
+
+    template<typename TConfig>
+    static void add()
+    {
+        StoreFactory factory{
+            .doc = TConfig::doc(),
+            .uriSchemes = TConfig::uriSchemes(),
+            .experimentalFeature = TConfig::experimentalFeature(),
+            .parseConfig = ([](auto scheme, auto uri, auto & params) -> ref<StoreConfig> {
+                return make_ref<TConfig>(scheme, uri, params);
+            }),
+            .getConfig = ([]() -> ref<StoreConfig> { return make_ref<TConfig>(Store::Config::Params{}); }),
+        };
+        auto [it, didInsert] = registered().insert({TConfig::name(), std::move(factory)});
+        if (!didInsert) {
+            throw Error("Already registred store with name '%s'", it->first);
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+template<typename TConfig>
+struct RegisterStoreImplementation
+{
+    RegisterStoreImplementation()
+    {
+        Implementations::add<TConfig>();
+    }
+};
+
+}
diff --git a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
index 1bddc280d..9ec9e6eec 100644
--- a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/ssh.hh"
 #include "nix/store/derivations.hh"
 #include "nix/util/callback.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-binary-cache-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-binary-cache-store.cc
index 645cca5f2..2f23135fa 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-binary-cache-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-binary-cache-store.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
 #include "nix/store/nar-info-disk-cache.hh"
 #include "nix/util/signals.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 
 #include <atomic>
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-overlay-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-overlay-store.cc
index e1a4d40de..e40c5fa6e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-overlay-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-overlay-store.cc
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+#include <regex>
+
 #include "nix/store/local-overlay-store.hh"
 #include "nix/util/callback.hh"
 #include "nix/store/realisation.hh"
 #include "nix/util/processes.hh"
 #include "nix/util/url.hh"
-#include <regex>
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index 0293b9af2..76fadba86 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 #include "nix/util/posix-source-accessor.hh"
 #include "nix/store/keys.hh"
 #include "nix/util/users.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <algorithm>
diff --git a/src/libstore/machines.cc b/src/libstore/machines.cc
index 0325a6a3a..483b337bf 100644
--- a/src/libstore/machines.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/machines.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "nix/store/machines.hh"
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/meson.build b/src/libstore/meson.build
index f3eac04fc..9681a38ab 100644
--- a/src/libstore/meson.build
+++ b/src/libstore/meson.build
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ sources = files(
   'ssh.cc',
   'store-api.cc',
   'store-dir-config.cc',
+  'store-registration.cc',
   'store-reference.cc',
   'uds-remote-store.cc',
   'worker-protocol-connection.cc',
diff --git a/src/libstore/misc.cc b/src/libstore/misc.cc
index c56b2cfe3..967c91d72 100644
--- a/src/libstore/misc.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/misc.cc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/parsed-derivations.hh"
 #include "nix/store/derivation-options.hh"
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/util/thread-pool.hh"
 #include "nix/store/realisation.hh"
 #include "nix/util/topo-sort.hh"
diff --git a/src/libstore/s3-binary-cache-store.cc b/src/libstore/s3-binary-cache-store.cc
index 8d8d82465..618112d1c 100644
--- a/src/libstore/s3-binary-cache-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/s3-binary-cache-store.cc
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "nix/util/compression.hh"
 #include "nix/store/filetransfer.hh"
 #include "nix/util/signals.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 
 #include <aws/core/Aws.h>
 #include <aws/core/VersionConfig.h>
diff --git a/src/libstore/ssh-store.cc b/src/libstore/ssh-store.cc
index 759a537b9..753256d48 100644
--- a/src/libstore/ssh-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/ssh-store.cc
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/worker-protocol-impl.hh"
 #include "nix/util/pool.hh"
 #include "nix/store/ssh.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.cc b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
index 08c542041..c3e9e0e52 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/realisation.hh"
 #include "nix/store/derivations.hh"
 #include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/util/util.hh"
 #include "nix/store/nar-info-disk-cache.hh"
 #include "nix/util/thread-pool.hh"
@@ -1304,108 +1305,3 @@ void Store::signRealisation(Realisation & realisation)
 }
 
 }
-
-
-#include "nix/store/local-store.hh"
-#include "nix/store/uds-remote-store.hh"
-
-
-namespace nix {
-
-ref<Store> openStore(const std::string & uri,
-    const Store::Config::Params & extraParams)
-{
-    return openStore(StoreReference::parse(uri, extraParams));
-}
-
-ref<Store> openStore(StoreReference && storeURI)
-{
-    auto & params = storeURI.params;
-
-    auto storeConfig = std::visit(overloaded {
-        [&](const StoreReference::Auto &) -> ref<StoreConfig> {
-            auto stateDir = getOr(params, "state", settings.nixStateDir);
-            if (access(stateDir.c_str(), R_OK | W_OK) == 0)
-                return make_ref<LocalStore::Config>(params);
-            else if (pathExists(settings.nixDaemonSocketFile))
-                return make_ref<UDSRemoteStore::Config>(params);
-            #ifdef __linux__
-            else if (!pathExists(stateDir)
-                && params.empty()
-                && !isRootUser()
-                && !getEnv("NIX_STORE_DIR").has_value()
-                && !getEnv("NIX_STATE_DIR").has_value())
-            {
-                /* If /nix doesn't exist, there is no daemon socket, and
-                   we're not root, then automatically set up a chroot
-                   store in ~/.local/share/nix/root. */
-                auto chrootStore = getDataDir() + "/root";
-                if (!pathExists(chrootStore)) {
-                    try {
-                        createDirs(chrootStore);
-                    } catch (SystemError & e) {
-                        return make_ref<LocalStore::Config>(params);
-                    }
-                    warn("'%s' does not exist, so Nix will use '%s' as a chroot store", stateDir, chrootStore);
-                } else
-                    debug("'%s' does not exist, so Nix will use '%s' as a chroot store", stateDir, chrootStore);
-                return make_ref<LocalStore::Config>("local", chrootStore, params);
-            }
-            #endif
-            else
-                return make_ref<LocalStore::Config>(params);
-        },
-        [&](const StoreReference::Specified & g) {
-            for (const auto & [storeName, implem] : Implementations::registered())
-                if (implem.uriSchemes.count(g.scheme))
-                    return implem.parseConfig(g.scheme, g.authority, params);
-
-            throw Error("don't know how to open Nix store with scheme '%s'", g.scheme);
-        },
-    }, storeURI.variant);
-
-    experimentalFeatureSettings.require(storeConfig->experimentalFeature());
-    storeConfig->warnUnknownSettings();
-
-    auto store = storeConfig->openStore();
-    store->init();
-
-    return store;
-}
-
-std::list<ref<Store>> getDefaultSubstituters()
-{
-    static auto stores([]() {
-        std::list<ref<Store>> stores;
-
-        StringSet done;
-
-        auto addStore = [&](const std::string & uri) {
-            if (!done.insert(uri).second) return;
-            try {
-                stores.push_back(openStore(uri));
-            } catch (Error & e) {
-                logWarning(e.info());
-            }
-        };
-
-        for (const auto & uri : settings.substituters.get())
-            addStore(uri);
-
-        stores.sort([](ref<Store> & a, ref<Store> & b) {
-            return a->config.priority < b->config.priority;
-        });
-
-        return stores;
-    } ());
-
-    return stores;
-}
-
-Implementations::Map & Implementations::registered()
-{
-    static Map registered;
-    return registered;
-}
-
-}
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-registration.cc b/src/libstore/store-registration.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..81cb80cc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/store-registration.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
+#include "nix/store/local-store.hh"
+#include "nix/store/uds-remote-store.hh"
+
+namespace nix {
+
+ref<Store> openStore(const std::string & uri, const Store::Config::Params & extraParams)
+{
+    return openStore(StoreReference::parse(uri, extraParams));
+}
+
+ref<Store> openStore(StoreReference && storeURI)
+{
+    auto & params = storeURI.params;
+
+    auto storeConfig = std::visit(
+        overloaded{
+            [&](const StoreReference::Auto &) -> ref<StoreConfig> {
+                auto stateDir = getOr(params, "state", settings.nixStateDir);
+                if (access(stateDir.c_str(), R_OK | W_OK) == 0)
+                    return make_ref<LocalStore::Config>(params);
+                else if (pathExists(settings.nixDaemonSocketFile))
+                    return make_ref<UDSRemoteStore::Config>(params);
+#ifdef __linux__
+                else if (
+                    !pathExists(stateDir) && params.empty() && !isRootUser() && !getEnv("NIX_STORE_DIR").has_value()
+                    && !getEnv("NIX_STATE_DIR").has_value()) {
+                    /* If /nix doesn't exist, there is no daemon socket, and
+                       we're not root, then automatically set up a chroot
+                       store in ~/.local/share/nix/root. */
+                    auto chrootStore = getDataDir() + "/root";
+                    if (!pathExists(chrootStore)) {
+                        try {
+                            createDirs(chrootStore);
+                        } catch (SystemError & e) {
+                            return make_ref<LocalStore::Config>(params);
+                        }
+                        warn("'%s' does not exist, so Nix will use '%s' as a chroot store", stateDir, chrootStore);
+                    } else
+                        debug("'%s' does not exist, so Nix will use '%s' as a chroot store", stateDir, chrootStore);
+                    return make_ref<LocalStore::Config>("local", chrootStore, params);
+                }
+#endif
+                else
+                    return make_ref<LocalStore::Config>(params);
+            },
+            [&](const StoreReference::Specified & g) {
+                for (const auto & [storeName, implem] : Implementations::registered())
+                    if (implem.uriSchemes.count(g.scheme))
+                        return implem.parseConfig(g.scheme, g.authority, params);
+
+                throw Error("don't know how to open Nix store with scheme '%s'", g.scheme);
+            },
+        },
+        storeURI.variant);
+
+    experimentalFeatureSettings.require(storeConfig->experimentalFeature());
+    storeConfig->warnUnknownSettings();
+
+    auto store = storeConfig->openStore();
+    store->init();
+
+    return store;
+}
+
+std::list<ref<Store>> getDefaultSubstituters()
+{
+    static auto stores([]() {
+        std::list<ref<Store>> stores;
+
+        StringSet done;
+
+        auto addStore = [&](const std::string & uri) {
+            if (!done.insert(uri).second)
+                return;
+            try {
+                stores.push_back(openStore(uri));
+            } catch (Error & e) {
+                logWarning(e.info());
+            }
+        };
+
+        for (const auto & uri : settings.substituters.get())
+            addStore(uri);
+
+        stores.sort([](ref<Store> & a, ref<Store> & b) { return a->config.priority < b->config.priority; });
+
+        return stores;
+    }());
+
+    return stores;
+}
+
+Implementations::Map & Implementations::registered()
+{
+    static Map registered;
+    return registered;
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/libstore/uds-remote-store.cc b/src/libstore/uds-remote-store.cc
index 480bc5c8a..9950e38b3 100644
--- a/src/libstore/uds-remote-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/uds-remote-store.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/uds-remote-store.hh"
 #include "nix/util/unix-domain-socket.hh"
 #include "nix/store/worker-protocol.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
diff --git a/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc b/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
index 1becac2b8..80ebf6bfa 100644
--- a/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
+++ b/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #include "nix/util/current-process.hh"
 #include "nix/store/parsed-derivations.hh"
 #include "nix/store/derivation-options.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/local-fs-store.hh"
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
 #include "nix/store/realisation.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix-channel/nix-channel.cc b/src/nix-channel/nix-channel.cc
index c0baa4aa2..9db130220 100644
--- a/src/nix-channel/nix-channel.cc
+++ b/src/nix-channel/nix-channel.cc
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include "nix/main/shared.hh"
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
 #include "nix/store/filetransfer.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/legacy.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/eval-settings.hh" // for defexpr
 #include "nix/util/users.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc b/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
index 3140bb809..7f86b2b5c 100644
--- a/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
+++ b/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "nix/util/file-system.hh"
 #include "nix/util/signals.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/store-cast.hh"
 #include "nix/store/gc-store.hh"
 #include "nix/store/profiles.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc b/src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc
index 6d0db1008..87d0f6590 100644
--- a/src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc
+++ b/src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "nix/main/shared.hh"
 #include "nix/store/realisation.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/legacy.hh"
 #include "man-pages.hh"
 
diff --git a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
index ff629d430..25ff39e38 100644
--- a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
+++ b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/profiles.hh"
 #include "nix/store/path-with-outputs.hh"
 #include "nix/main/shared.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/local-fs-store.hh"
 #include "user-env.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/value-to-json.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc b/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc
index c1b6cc66a..f7b218efc 100644
--- a/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc
+++ b/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include "nix/util/signals.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/value-to-xml.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/value-to-json.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/local-fs-store.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/common-eval-args.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/legacy.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 128d57443..9acdf4554 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/derivations.hh"
 #include "dotgraph.hh"
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/store-cast.hh"
 #include "nix/store/local-fs-store.hh"
 #include "nix/store/log-store.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix/flake.cc b/src/nix/flake.cc
index 80ff111f1..ea83bb54c 100644
--- a/src/nix/flake.cc
+++ b/src/nix/flake.cc
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include "nix/flake/flake.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/get-drvs.hh"
 #include "nix/util/signals.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/derivations.hh"
 #include "nix/store/outputs-spec.hh"
 #include "nix/expr/attr-path.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix/log.cc b/src/nix/log.cc
index e44f6d69b..78f1dd570 100644
--- a/src/nix/log.cc
+++ b/src/nix/log.cc
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
 #include "nix/main/common-args.hh"
 #include "nix/main/shared.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/log-store.hh"
 
 using namespace nix;
diff --git a/src/nix/main.cc b/src/nix/main.cc
index 4a0fa6632..05c5da27d 100644
--- a/src/nix/main.cc
+++ b/src/nix/main.cc
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/legacy.hh"
 #include "nix/main/shared.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-registration.hh"
 #include "nix/store/filetransfer.hh"
 #include "nix/util/finally.hh"
 #include "nix/main/loggers.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix/make-content-addressed.cc b/src/nix/make-content-addressed.cc
index 292bf42fd..5523ae279 100644
--- a/src/nix/make-content-addressed.cc
+++ b/src/nix/make-content-addressed.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/make-content-addressed.hh"
 #include "nix/main/common-args.hh"
 
diff --git a/src/nix/prefetch.cc b/src/nix/prefetch.cc
index d56b73bf1..9e5e3c09a 100644
--- a/src/nix/prefetch.cc
+++ b/src/nix/prefetch.cc
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
 #include "nix/main/common-args.hh"
 #include "nix/main/shared.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/filetransfer.hh"
 #include "nix/util/finally.hh"
 #include "nix/main/loggers.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix/repl.cc b/src/nix/repl.cc
index fcce43b8f..ca470e99b 100644
--- a/src/nix/repl.cc
+++ b/src/nix/repl.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "nix/expr/eval-settings.hh"
 #include "nix/util/config-global.hh"
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/installable-value.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/repl.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix/sigs.cc b/src/nix/sigs.cc
index 9ef54a414..fb868baa1 100644
--- a/src/nix/sigs.cc
+++ b/src/nix/sigs.cc
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "nix/util/signals.hh"
 #include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
 #include "nix/main/shared.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/util/thread-pool.hh"
 
 #include <atomic>
diff --git a/src/nix/unix/daemon.cc b/src/nix/unix/daemon.cc
index 95e84ee72..301f8aa50 100644
--- a/src/nix/unix/daemon.cc
+++ b/src/nix/unix/daemon.cc
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/local-store.hh"
 #include "nix/store/remote-store.hh"
 #include "nix/store/remote-store-connection.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/util/serialise.hh"
 #include "nix/util/archive.hh"
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
diff --git a/src/nix/verify.cc b/src/nix/verify.cc
index ff81d78b6..eb2cde93c 100644
--- a/src/nix/verify.cc
+++ b/src/nix/verify.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
 #include "nix/main/shared.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/util/thread-pool.hh"
 #include "nix/util/signals.hh"
 #include "nix/store/keys.hh"
diff --git a/src/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs b/src/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
index 34ed8b5f0..edcb6d72a 100644
--- a/src/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
+++ b/src/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include "nix/store/derivations.hh"
 #include "nix/store/realisation.hh"
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/util/posix-source-accessor.hh"
 
 #include <sodium.h>
diff --git a/tests/functional/test-libstoreconsumer/main.cc b/tests/functional/test-libstoreconsumer/main.cc
index 2c0402094..0dc5a5a46 100644
--- a/tests/functional/test-libstoreconsumer/main.cc
+++ b/tests/functional/test-libstoreconsumer/main.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include "nix/store/globals.hh"
-#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-open.hh"
 #include "nix/store/build-result.hh"
 #include <iostream>