03 Mar Shopping A Downtown in SWVA
The Mercantile on Main in Wise, Virginia started as one business owner’s idea to maximize their Main St office space. Jessee Deloach of Koltown Properties wanted to use half of their leased real estate office space for the Mercantile. The Mercantile is a shop on Main Street where local or small business vendors can set up a physical retail display and pay monthly for their spot in the store. Currently the Mercantile houses 26 vendors from as far away as Alabama. In a time where e-commerce is growing exponentially there is still something about an in-person experience when it comes to hand-made and craft items.
Jessee and his team at the Mercantile have a big heart for Downtown Wise. They aim to provide both a unique shopping experience and a community-friendly hub for makers. The Mercantile has hosted a wide range of customers from the weekly patron to guests of the area having a stay at the Inn at Wise. In our chat he told a story about meeting some out-of-towners and enjoying the opportunity to inform them of other places in town they should visit.
There is something for everyone at the Mercantile and best of all every item purchased is supporting a local maker or small business, not to mention the superior quality that comes with buying craft and hand-made goods. Jessee says they are looking to host workshops in the future with both vendors and non-vendors. Take a moment to pay them a visit or reach out if you have interest in becoming a vendor or hosting a workshop at the Mercantile on Main.
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