The Merc by Kip Sikora
If you have spent any time at all in Corvallis, Mont., chances are you know The Merc.
Corvallis Mercantile, popularly known as The Merc, is a major economic hub in the tiny Ravali county town. Its interior is organized much like the typical convenience store, but its aisles are peppered with epicurean fare including gluten-free crackers and organic salad dressings. Such items are commonplace at The Good Food Store, but in the small town of Corvallis, they make The Merc unique.
Music, the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, plays from a Sirius satellite radio connection while folks mingle about, shopping for everything from candy and coffee to gourmet deli sandwiches and imported beer to folksy crafts and locally canned fruit.
Wagons filled with potpourri, old-time toys and antique bureaus infuse the space with, not only a sense of place, but also home. “I just love the way this place is decorated,” says employee Darla Lewis.
In the far corner stands a rack of Corvallis High School Blue Devils gear including t-shirts, hats and hoodies. And as the only gas station in town, its pumps never sit idle for very long.
Yet The Merc is more than a center of commerce; it is a social hub as well. Whether outside or in the café, students, parents and community members gather for conversation and an ice cream cone, or perhaps a sandwich. News of comings, goings and all other happenings passes through the space of The Merc. It is the proverbial grapevine.