Lost my app store icon how do I recover?

It may be on another Home screen or in a folder. You can just look for it, or you can go to Settings -> General -> Reset and reset the Home Screen Layout. If that doesn't get it back, go to the Restrictions settings and see if the the option to purchase apps is turned off; if so, turn it back on.

Regards.

Its a preinstalled app and therefore cannot be deleted so you may have inadvertently moved it onto a screen or into a folder. Check all screens and folders and do a search in Spotlight, it will tell you in the app it still on your iPhone but unfortunately not where it is. If you find it on one or your screens or in a folder, press until the icon wiggles and then drag it back to where you want it. Alternatively you can reset your home screen in Settings>General>Reset>Reset Home Screen Layout.

LIke all built-in apps, the App Store app cannot be deleted from the iPhone, so it's still there. You might have moved it to a different screen, or most likely, moved it to a folder, so it's difficult to spot.

Look for it more carefully, or you can do a Spotlight search for it (swipe the home screen to the right).

very helpful!