August 6, 2024 • 22 mins
Bringing vibrancy to downtown - Tori, owner of Mercantile on Broad, saw an opportunity for an event and spearheaded the 2nd Saturday Downtown Statesville events. Downtown businesses and vendors come together for a community event bringing in locals and out-of-town visitors to explore Statesville and shop/dine at our downtown Statesville businesses. These monthly gatherings not only boost economic activity but also cultivate a vibrant community spirit.
Tori also walks through her journey to become the owner of Mercantile on Broad, a store showcasing 40 local makers and artisans, offering a diverse selection from home decor to pet accessories. Michele from Made to Encourage (one of the makers whose work is sold there) joins to share insights into how this collaborative venture has become a sanctuary for local talent, fostering a supportive space brimming with creativity. Listen in as Michele discusses the joy of creating reclaimed and custom-made pieces, and the fruitful partnership with Mercantile On Broad.
Learn more about Mercantile On Broad's events, where creativity knows no bounds. From ladies' nights to the ever-popular DIY workshops, Tori has crafted a dynamic calendar that appeals to all ages. We emphasize the flexibility of the space for custom parties and fundraisers, and the continuous influx of unique items from local vendors. Stay connected with Mercantile On Broad through their social media and website to keep up with their latest offerings and updates.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you're looking for something fun and exciting to
do in Statesville, northCarolina, this weekend, we have
plans for you.
Tune in.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Welcome to Discover Statesville, the show that takes
you on a captivating journeythrough the heart of one of
North Carolina's most charmingtowns.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Hello, welcome to Discover Statesville.
Today we are joined by Tori,owner of Mercantile On Broad
here in downtown Statesville.
Welcome, Tori.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Tell us a little bit about your shop and how long
you've been in town.
Speaker 5 (00:29):
Sure.
So our store has been there fortwo years.
I took over in November of 2023.
So we're quickly approachingnine months of being there.
We are located at 108 WestBroad Street and we are home to
40 plus local makers, artisansand small shops 40?
40.
Wow, actually more but 40 shops.
40.
40.
Wow, actually more but 40sounds really good.
I think 49 is like almost, Idon't know.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Anyway.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Yeah, there's a bunch in there, a lot.
Yes, we say that we have homedecor, gifts and more.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
We also have apparel, and if we don't have it, we
could probably get it made andso, yeah, tell our listeners who
may not know I know and I knowRichard knows but tell our
listeners what a maker is, likethose 40, like what does that
make up?
Speaker 5 (01:11):
One of them is right here, michelle, for me to
encourage, to make these lovelypieces here.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Welcome, Michelle.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
thank you.
Yeah, I think a maker issomebody who literally does
something by hand.
It's somebody who makessomething from scratch and sells
it as a piece that's made bythem.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
So locals who are using their talents to put
together unique, creative pieces.
Correct, maybe it's abestseller, like you were
showing me here and youreplicate it, but they're unique
pieces.
But the main thing is they'rehere in the area, making it
local.
And, tori, what you're doingwith Murgantown Unbrought is
(01:51):
you're someone that's small,starting out and making
something that really doesn'thave the wherewithal to— Help
and lift all these artists upand create exposure Right.
have a retail storefront, so youare literally the place where
they can all come together andsell these wares.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
Yeah, we like to say we have something for everyone.
I feel like we definitely havemore of a female base than male,
but we're working on that.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
We have jellies now.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
No, I don't even know what that is.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I was thinking like jelly shoes.
I went way back.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Thank you for the clarification.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I only put butter on top.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
We brought in food and a couple other things.
So we're slowly working ongetting everybody to be like
woohoo, this is my shop.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
But yes.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
You have things to eat and stuff too.
Yes, it's a beautiful store.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
If you walk in, it's just like, wow, it really is
gorgeous, but have things to eatand stuff too.
Yes, yes, yes, it's a beautifulstore.
Yes, if you walk in, it's justlike, wow, it really is gorgeous
, but you have to walk in.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Well, your windows are amazing.
I love that.
Thank you the way you decorateyour windows.
It draws you in, and then youhave some racks right there as
you walk in with some sale items.
But you really have to get allthe way in there to that, that
back portion, to really I meanwith 40 different makers in
there, to really experience allthe great things you have.
(03:10):
Yes and um, I saw on socialmedia that and I have two dogs
who are little humans yes, thatyou brought in some new
raincoats with matching leashes.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
We did we have a new vendor, stella and oscar, who um
designs, um collars and leashesand the rain jackets and
they're super cute.
We just got a pet baker thatmoved in, so we're really
excited to kind of hit all thethings that people are looking
for.
We try to engage with peoplethat come in and get to know
them and what they're lookingfor and if we don't have it, we
try to find someone that makesit so literally something for
(03:40):
everyone.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Richard, I have something for you.
Merle 100% needs one of theseraincoats.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I'm trying to think how much Merle would enjoy a
raincoat.
He might really dig it.
He's an outdoor dog.
Do you do the little like a hatto accompany?
Do they make those?
Speaker 5 (03:52):
I mean, you give me 10 days and I'll find one, my
dog would look really good inone of those rain hats.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
So are all the artists.
I mean, do you have the storesectioned off so that each
artist has a particular sectionthat is theirs, or do you have
different people's piecesintermingled with other artists?
Speaker 5 (04:08):
So it's a combination .
So a lot of stores have boothsand it's set to that spot Like
this is Michelle's space.
Yeah, so we do have that, butwe also have what I call an open
floor concept.
So when you walk into the store, it just looks like this big
beautiful store of stuff, butit's all handmade.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
And it's.
I think she does vignettesreally well, so she can group
things from different.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
You kind of curate different displays of different
artists.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
And then you can see how it goes together.
Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
So when you walk into the store, you don't
necessarily know that there's 40, 50 different makers in there,
but there are, and then we letpeople know.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Yeah, it doesn't feel like a flea market, it feels
like a home space.
It's really pretty.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
So we tried to set it up to where you can almost
envision it in your home or inyour kid's room.
We have had people that justwere like here I want this whole
, whatever you did here.
I just want that and I'm likeoh, okay, you're into designer
too.
No, ma'am, that's also a joke.
In the store People come inlike my house does not look like
this.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
But my store looks really awesome.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
At home I have a four-year-old and we have toys
everywhere and pillow forts, andyeah, that's real, that's a
home right there.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Pillow forts my kids have outgrown pillow forts and I
really miss it, it's frownedupon when I build my own house.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Oh, it's a good time.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Or at least I assume it would be.
I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Tori, why the mercantile on Broad for you?
You said it was an existingstore.
I mean, we know that, but forour listeners they may not know
that someone else had opened itand they moved on to something
else.
So what inspired you?
Are you a maker yourself?
What inspired you to want toown a retail store in downtown
Statesville?
Speaker 5 (05:46):
I previously lived in Texas and I did like a.
I'm not a maker, but I had aboutique section in it with
clothing and accessories andthings like that and I loved
being a part of somethingdifferent, bigger, and I hate to
bring up the word COVID, but itwas post COVID, post having
baby.
I was stuck home forever andthat was kind of like my out.
I also had a full-time job, butthat was my, that was my
(06:10):
creative space, that was thatwas my thing.
We left there, came here andthe opportunity presented itself
and here we are and I justthink it's so.
I've seen it from like a vendorstandpoint and now I get to
have the storefront and be theperson that runs the show and
it's really exciting to meetpeople and reach out to people
and like see something that's sobeautiful and be like hey, do
(06:30):
you want to be a part of mystore?
Speaker 4 (06:31):
And she's a great partner.
She's a really, reallywonderful support partner.
I really feel like sheencourages us, promotes us,
sells us.
She's really great to hermakers, so I don't have maker
talent, but I like to think thatI'm like people's cheerleaders.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
I like to bring joy.
So when I see somethingbeautiful, I'm like let's do
this.
She's great.
You're creating an environment,yeah so I like to bring that
happy energy.
And when people are like, can Ibring my dog, can I bring my
kids, I'm like, yes, bring themin.
Like let's do this.
See what happens.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Well, in a minute we're going to talk about how
you're extending all that thatmakes you a great person out to
the community.
So we appreciate you doing thattoo, but first let's maybe let
Michelle talk about her productsin particular, and you've
brought some examples, but tellus about your business and why
you chose Mercantile and Broadand Downtown too Well, that's
all her.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
How I chose her, that's all tory.
But um we start, my husband andI started uh made to encourage
after we were um divorced for 19years and we reconciled and
congratulations, thank you yeah,it's a really cool story and
when we get a chance to tell ourstory, it often encourages
people.
So we, since we were restoredand reclaimed, we use reclaimed
(07:45):
materials and we'd like to saythat we restore pieces to
another beautiful look or feelor another piece.
So we call ourselves Made toEncourage because our story
encourages others.
So I try to use that as alittle bit of a platform and get
a chance to talk to people.
(08:05):
But I like to make things thatbring a smile to somebody's face
and hopefully will brightentheir space.
And she reached out to me lastyear and just said hey, I really
like your stuff.
I have a store.
Do you want to sell here?
And I was like, yeah, sure,let's check this out.
When I walked in her store itwas just like, yes, I want to be
(08:26):
a part of this.
This is exactly what I want.
And she was just so lovely andso delightful to be around.
And we joke that when I dropoff things to set up my space in
her store it's supposed to be afive-minute little chat and it
ends up being like 30, 45minutes of us just going
da-da-da-da-da-da andencouraging each other and
sharing stories.
And you know, she's just great.
(08:46):
Tori's just like truly one ofmy most favorite people, oh
thank you, she's really reallycool.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
So tell us about you said one of this was your
bestseller.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Yeah, this is one of our bestsellers.
This is called Wake Up Call.
I have them in different colors.
I certainly can do things in.
I had a woman reach out to meand ask if I could do a piece in
her, her company colors.
So we do brand colors.
We can do anything that'scustom, almost anything, and
every once in a while she'll,tori, will say hey.
So I have a new vendor that'sdoing X, y, z, and she happened
(09:19):
to mention that she has a pet ora dog a vendor coming in.
So I started making some dogand pet pieces as well so that
she can again incorporate theminto what she's selling.
And then you know, if I sellstuff, she sells stuff.
She's successful, right?
So if I'm selling something,she's being successful.
It's a beautiful littlerelationship.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Symbiotic relationship.
Yeah, do you have moreavailability for artists?
Speaker 5 (09:43):
We have a few more.
We just brought in four moreyesterday, so I'm down to
another piece of paper andpencil.
My husband's holding me.
I should probably calm down,hey, babe.
But yeah, every once in a whileI get ideas and I'm literally
like pen paper.
Now I have it.
And he's like right now we'rehaving ice cream.
(10:04):
I'm like, right now I just gotthe idea, so give me two more
weeks and probably a little bitmore space, but we had four
awesome vendors move inyesterday that we're really
excited about, and now I got togo back to the drawing board.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
That's good.
Slow growth is good.
Yeah, it's exciting, but acompilation of all these great
things can't speak today.
That you're talking about iswhat encouraged us to first
reach out to you, because wewere seeing that you were going
outside of your brick and mortar.
(10:36):
A lot of businesses just sitand wait for people to show up
and I think you are establishingyourself and making sure that
you're successful for yourselfand for these great friends
you're making and your makersand vendors that you have coming
in, but you have recently.
I think this coming weekendwill be your fourth, august will
(11:01):
be your fourth.
You're calling second Saturdayyes, and it's the second
Saturday of the month, and Ithink you have diligently just
worked out, reached out to touchevery downtown Statesville
business and say, hey, I want todo this thing, do you want to
be a part?
And they've embraced it.
Right, I'm really trying.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
I really had some help because I'm just one person
, it seems like it.
It seems like you've startedsomething really cool.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
So, tell us about it and tell us why everyone should
come out this weekend atDowntown Statesville and
experience Second Saturday.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Sure.
So Second Saturday, I guess,was denied Okay, backtrack.
So, like downtown does so manyawesome things and on those days
I feel like the downtownbusinesses we do so well and we
get to meet so many people andwe get returning customers, but
we always get to meet newcustomers.
We get people from near, we getpeople from far.
And you know, november I tookover in November November and
(11:56):
December were like wild, amazing, great.
And then you hit January andthen February we were cash
mobbed, which was so cool, andthen and it just, I think,
slowly just started like made merealize like ooh, these like
events are fun and they bring ina lot of people and we get to
meet people.
It's just, it's just a good dayfor I think, everybody downtown
(12:18):
, right.
And then I was talking to acouple of ladies.
We had like the calm manner,just open and stuff like that,
and we were just kind ofnetworking and we're like let's
do a sip and shop or this orthat.
So we came up with like a luckyevent for St Patrick's Day and
that was really great and we'relike huh.
And then Joe from Red Buffaloshook my hand and he's like hey,
I'm so-and-so and I I don'tknow if you want to do this, but
(12:40):
we're planning like a Mother'sDay out.
He's like let's do it.
I'm like okay, and then I likereached out to Liz.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Joe.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
Bondi's really good for that, yeah, and I was like,
okay, cool.
And then Liz Petrie fromdowntown reached out to her and
she was like you know, I'mwhat's your idea?
And I was like well, I just needsome help.
Maybe we could just get like acouple more people to like want
to join the party.
You know, and slowly but slowlybut surely it's grown from just
four or five businesses to six,seven, eight, and now in August
(13:08):
now just this upcoming week wehave I don't even know 20, maybe
more.
We just had another businessmeeting last week and we're
working on improving it.
We had a couple little hiccupson the last one, but we're just
really excited to inviteeverybody in and we also have,
so it's not just the storefrontsthat are doing things, but
we're also inviting localvendors in.
So it's just another way.
(13:30):
Like my store is only so big, Ican only fit in so many things.
Obviously I love to supportlocal, so this just gives more
local businesses to have apresence.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
So it would be like a sort of pop-up sort of thing.
Yeah, it's like, oh, we don'thave space right now, but we're
going to have this event, yeah,so we have 20 stores
participating, let's say, andnow we can have 20 pop-up
vendors.
Speaker 5 (13:49):
And it's just fun.
And it gives the communitysomething to come do and come
say hi.
At our last one, we had peoplefrom out of town coming in.
We had people that were like wepicked you for a ladies night
out and you know whatever.
And I'm like woohoo, likethat's cool, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
So I love that Well and I think it's a cool
opportunity too for people tosee our downtown and some of
these vendors, businesses,whatever that may not have a
regular presence here Right Cansee oh gosh.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
Maybe I'm interested in investigating that further
Sure, so certainly a greatexposure.
It just gets more feet downhere.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Absolutely, I just like to have a good time, you
mentioned Liz and I would saythe team at Downtown Statesville
Development Corporation, butit's a team of one.
Now, just like you said, I'mone person and I think it's
really cool, because I don'tthink they're used to someone
coming to them with a solutionand, hey, I want to do this, is
it okay?
(14:39):
They're used to someone comingto them with a problem or saying
I need you to do this for meand their workload's already so
big.
So if they can just lift up andsupport a solution that
someone's bringing them, itmakes it.
It turns into a really coolthing.
It seems like that's what'shappening for you guys.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
I didn't expect all this, but it's been a nice,
pleasant surprise.
What started as just four orfive shops getting together and
saying you know, hey, let's seewhat we can do for a Thursday
from 5 to 7 has turned into oncea month party.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
I think that's awesome.
And to Cindy's point, I meanthat's you know we deal with a
lot with the city as well isthat people often just come with
a hey, what can you know, howcan you fix this or what can you
do.
So when somebody does come toyou with an idea and some energy
, you want to help lift thatperson up and you know you're
not taking on the significantpiece of the burden.
You know it's like well, we cancertainly support you, we can
(15:35):
help get your messaging out.
So I think Cindy's right.
I mean coming with an idea andthen yeah, well, yeah, Broken
clocks rock twice a day.
That was my second analogy.
I'm glad I didn't go with thefirst one, but no,
congratulations, I think that'soutstanding and you're bringing
vibrancy to our downtown, whichis amazing.
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Thank you.
It's really a team effort, likeI appreciate everybody.
I don't know I'm strugglingtaking like all the credit
because it's not just me, I justWell, we only have two extra
stools.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
I just have a cream.
So I mean, it's you know?
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I just have this idea .
I'll take a little bit ofcredit.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Tori wanted to invite a whole bunch of people, but we
had a limited amount of seating.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
I was like okay, I'll just bring one, sure we tag you
in the comments.
You're all awesome too, but shesaid no, I'm kidding, I'm
kidding.
We're already very close.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
I was going to say people are used to that from me,
tori.
No, you're the best.
I appreciate it.
So we're very excited about it.
So it's happening this comingweekend on Saturday, the second
Saturday in August, and thenyour intention is just to keep
growing it and keep it goingevery second Saturday.
Now, one thing we didn't talkabout is you have more than just
second Saturday going on at theMercantile and Broad.
(16:43):
You have lots of pretty coolevents, don't you?
I've seen some other events.
We do try, yeah, so talk alittle bit about some of those.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
Yeah, so I don't know , I just grew up Italian.
I grew up with a big family.
I like to hang out with people.
That's good.
So we just kind of get creativeand come up with ideas, whether
it be a ladies' night or lastweek we did Christmas.
In July we had Foster Love,adopt, repeat, a local foster
(17:11):
organization, come in and we allgot to have fun doing that.
And just because we have somany makers, sometimes we get to
do DIY.
So we've done like trucker hatbars, make your own this, make
your own that, and we just havefun.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
When are you going to do another one of the trucker
hat things?
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Well, saturday, when do you want?
Speaker 1 (17:30):
it.
Come on out, richard.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Here's the cool thing too If somebody wanted to like
throw a party, have a party, wecould do that too.
Like we do customs, we doparties, we do fundraisers, I
mean.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
That's great to mention.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Yeah, I just thought of that right now, for people
who might oh, you know, we'vegot a group of friends, we get
together but we struggle forthings to do.
I mean, I think there aregroups out there that probably
my buddies and I don't strugglefor things to do.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
You don't want to have a trucker hat party.
Well, maybe Now that I knowthat's an option.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
That's very possible.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
But I think that you're throwing your hat in that
ring and that, hey, here'sanother activity that you can
throw in the mix Contact youguys, and coordinate it?
Speaker 5 (18:09):
I don't know.
We just like to think we havefun inside.
That's outstanding.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
So pretty much any holiday coming up in the future
people should at least look andcheck and see.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
I wonder what the Mercantile Unbrought has.
So the cool thing too is wehave new stuff all the time.
I think it's cool because thevendors are constantly rotating
stuff.
When they have an idea and theymake something, they bring it
in.
They don't have to wait.
They just got to restock theirspace and whatever their
creative idea is that week ormonth, that's what it is.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Have you done kids workshops?
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Yes, we have.
We have one coming up on the17th.
Okay, yeah, we have stuff allthe time.
She's got it all.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
It sounds that way.
So you know, Richard said sofour-year-olds just raising
themselves all year round,working all the time.
Now, now, now, nice return.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
My little now, now, now, my little Levi is.
He's my biggest fan.
I don't know, you have to fightme anyway.
No, but I do, because I have somany makers we can have power.
Like, when she comes over Ihave to kick her out.
Just keeps talking.
No, but we just, we're always.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
It's very true, but it's just like that.
She gets a look on her face.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
No, I'm kidding, she's so cute no, but because
there's so many people involvedin the store, we can come up
with an idea for just aboutanything.
So that's why, when people comein, we're like well, what's
your idea?
Give us 10 days, maybe we canmake it happen.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
It's sort of like the analogy.
We're talking about the secondSaturday event.
It's like somebody great, let'sfigure out how to do it, and so
you've got people coming to youwith ideas, which certainly
helps with that collaborativeeffort and energy.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Yeah, so we mentioned make sure people go out and
look to see what you've gotcoming up.
Tell people how they can go outand look.
Tell us how we can find you onsocial media website.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Sure, so the Mercantileroadnccom is our
website, and then we have theMercantile On Broad, facebook
and Instagram, and then we'relocated at 108 West Broad Street
in downtown Statesville.
And what are your hours?
11 to 6, tuesday, wednesday,thursday, friday is 11 to 7.
And Saturday is 10 to 5.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah, you've expanded your hours, so thank you for
doing that.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
I think it makes it easier for people to come see
you doing that.
Yeah, I think it makes iteasier for people to come see
you.
Yay, and then May 10, courageis also.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
How do we we're on Facebook and Instagram?
Yeah, I do local art shows andcraft shows in North Carolina
and I have a storefront.
I have a space at thestorefront.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
And she'll be with us this Saturday.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
on our second Saturday, I'm going to be a
pop-up vendor, so I get to talkto people, which I love doing.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Yeah, so find some of these great items at Mercantile
and Broad.
Well, we really appreciate youguys being here and so normally
when we well, I'll say this aminute I do want to say that the
Discover Statesville show ismade possible by the Statesville
Convention and Visitors Bureau,driving visibility and tourism
(20:57):
for Statesville, North Carolina.
So we're very appreciative ofthat.
And that sounded like I justsaid I'm appreciative of myself,
but it's the board of directorswho allow us to do this, to
bring the behind the scenes ofwhat's happening in Statesville
to the forefront.
So we're very appreciative ofthat.
And normally when we saygoodbye, we wave, but I saw Tori
and her friends did this greatreel that everyone's been doing.
(21:20):
So I think when we say goodbyetoday I don't know, I don't know
.
I have no idea what's about tohappen.
I don't know where you're goingwith this, really.
Yeah, so for Second Saturday,instead of waving goodbye, we're
going to say Thanks,statesville, see you next time.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Yay, thank you for joining Discover Statesville.
You can email us at discover atstatesvillenccom.
Check us out on Facebook atDiscover Statesville, nc hashtag
Discover Statesville and ourwebsite statesvillenccom.
Catch us next week as wecontinue on our journey to
(22:02):
uncover the hidden gems,culinary adventures,
entertainment, and to beinspired and enlightened as we
Discover Statesville.
If you're looking for something fun and exciting to
do in Statesville, northCarolina, this weekend, we have
plans for you.
Tune in.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Welcome to Discover Statesville, the show that takes
you on a captivating journeythrough the heart of one of
North Carolina's most charmingtowns.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Hello, welcome to Discover Statesville.
Today we are joined by Tori,owner of Mercantile On Broad
here in downtown Statesville.
Welcome, Tori.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Tell us a little bit about your shop and how long
you've been in town.
Speaker 5 (00:29):
Sure.
So our store has been there fortwo years.
I took over in November of 2023.
So we're quickly approachingnine months of being there.
We are located at 108 WestBroad Street and we are home to
40 plus local makers, artisansand small shops 40?
40.
Wow, actually more but 40 shops.
40.
40.
Wow, actually more but 40sounds really good.
I think 49 is like almost, Idon't know.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Anyway.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Yeah, there's a bunch in there, a lot.
Yes, we say that we have homedecor, gifts and more.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
We also have apparel, and if we don't have it, we
could probably get it made andso, yeah, tell our listeners who
may not know I know and I knowRichard knows but tell our
listeners what a maker is, likethose 40, like what does that
make up?
Speaker 5 (01:11):
One of them is right here, michelle, for me to
encourage, to make these lovelypieces here.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Welcome, Michelle.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
thank you.
Yeah, I think a maker issomebody who literally does
something by hand.
It's somebody who makessomething from scratch and sells
it as a piece that's made bythem.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
So locals who are using their talents to put
together unique, creative pieces.
Correct, maybe it's abestseller, like you were
showing me here and youreplicate it, but they're unique
pieces.
But the main thing is they'rehere in the area, making it
local.
And, tori, what you're doingwith Murgantown Unbrought is
(01:51):
you're someone that's small,starting out and making
something that really doesn'thave the wherewithal to— Help
and lift all these artists upand create exposure Right.
have a retail storefront, so youare literally the place where
they can all come together andsell these wares.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
Yeah, we like to say we have something for everyone.
I feel like we definitely havemore of a female base than male,
but we're working on that.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
We have jellies now.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
No, I don't even know what that is.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I was thinking like jelly shoes.
I went way back.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Thank you for the clarification.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I only put butter on top.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
We brought in food and a couple other things.
So we're slowly working ongetting everybody to be like
woohoo, this is my shop.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
But yes.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
You have things to eat and stuff too.
Yes, it's a beautiful store.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
If you walk in, it's just like, wow, it really is
gorgeous, but have things to eatand stuff too.
Yes, yes, yes, it's a beautifulstore.
Yes, if you walk in, it's justlike, wow, it really is gorgeous
, but you have to walk in.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Well, your windows are amazing.
I love that.
Thank you the way you decorateyour windows.
It draws you in, and then youhave some racks right there as
you walk in with some sale items.
But you really have to get allthe way in there to that, that
back portion, to really I meanwith 40 different makers in
there, to really experience allthe great things you have.
(03:10):
Yes and um, I saw on socialmedia that and I have two dogs
who are little humans yes, thatyou brought in some new
raincoats with matching leashes.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
We did we have a new vendor, stella and oscar, who um
designs, um collars and leashesand the rain jackets and
they're super cute.
We just got a pet baker thatmoved in, so we're really
excited to kind of hit all thethings that people are looking
for.
We try to engage with peoplethat come in and get to know
them and what they're lookingfor and if we don't have it, we
try to find someone that makesit so literally something for
(03:40):
everyone.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Richard, I have something for you.
Merle 100% needs one of theseraincoats.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I'm trying to think how much Merle would enjoy a
raincoat.
He might really dig it.
He's an outdoor dog.
Do you do the little like a hatto accompany?
Do they make those?
Speaker 5 (03:52):
I mean, you give me 10 days and I'll find one, my
dog would look really good inone of those rain hats.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
So are all the artists.
I mean, do you have the storesectioned off so that each
artist has a particular sectionthat is theirs, or do you have
different people's piecesintermingled with other artists?
Speaker 5 (04:08):
So it's a combination .
So a lot of stores have boothsand it's set to that spot Like
this is Michelle's space.
Yeah, so we do have that, butwe also have what I call an open
floor concept.
So when you walk into the store, it just looks like this big
beautiful store of stuff, butit's all handmade.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
And it's.
I think she does vignettesreally well, so she can group
things from different.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
You kind of curate different displays of different
artists.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
And then you can see how it goes together.
Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
So when you walk into the store, you don't
necessarily know that there's 40, 50 different makers in there,
but there are, and then we letpeople know.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Yeah, it doesn't feel like a flea market, it feels
like a home space.
It's really pretty.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
So we tried to set it up to where you can almost
envision it in your home or inyour kid's room.
We have had people that justwere like here I want this whole
, whatever you did here.
I just want that and I'm likeoh, okay, you're into designer
too.
No, ma'am, that's also a joke.
In the store People come inlike my house does not look like
this.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
But my store looks really awesome.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
At home I have a four-year-old and we have toys
everywhere and pillow forts, andyeah, that's real, that's a
home right there.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Pillow forts my kids have outgrown pillow forts and I
really miss it, it's frownedupon when I build my own house.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Oh, it's a good time.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Or at least I assume it would be.
I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Tori, why the mercantile on Broad for you?
You said it was an existingstore.
I mean, we know that, but forour listeners they may not know
that someone else had opened itand they moved on to something
else.
So what inspired you?
Are you a maker yourself?
What inspired you to want toown a retail store in downtown
Statesville?
Speaker 5 (05:46):
I previously lived in Texas and I did like a.
I'm not a maker, but I had aboutique section in it with
clothing and accessories andthings like that and I loved
being a part of somethingdifferent, bigger, and I hate to
bring up the word COVID, but itwas post COVID, post having
baby.
I was stuck home forever andthat was kind of like my out.
I also had a full-time job, butthat was my, that was my
(06:10):
creative space, that was thatwas my thing.
We left there, came here andthe opportunity presented itself
and here we are and I justthink it's so.
I've seen it from like a vendorstandpoint and now I get to
have the storefront and be theperson that runs the show and
it's really exciting to meetpeople and reach out to people
and like see something that's sobeautiful and be like hey, do
(06:30):
you want to be a part of mystore?
Speaker 4 (06:31):
And she's a great partner.
She's a really, reallywonderful support partner.
I really feel like sheencourages us, promotes us,
sells us.
She's really great to hermakers, so I don't have maker
talent, but I like to think thatI'm like people's cheerleaders.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
I like to bring joy.
So when I see somethingbeautiful, I'm like let's do
this.
She's great.
You're creating an environment,yeah so I like to bring that
happy energy.
And when people are like, can Ibring my dog, can I bring my
kids, I'm like, yes, bring themin.
Like let's do this.
See what happens.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Well, in a minute we're going to talk about how
you're extending all that thatmakes you a great person out to
the community.
So we appreciate you doing thattoo, but first let's maybe let
Michelle talk about her productsin particular, and you've
brought some examples, but tellus about your business and why
you chose Mercantile and Broadand Downtown too Well, that's
all her.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
How I chose her, that's all tory.
But um we start, my husband andI started uh made to encourage
after we were um divorced for 19years and we reconciled and
congratulations, thank you yeah,it's a really cool story and
when we get a chance to tell ourstory, it often encourages
people.
So we, since we were restoredand reclaimed, we use reclaimed
(07:45):
materials and we'd like to saythat we restore pieces to
another beautiful look or feelor another piece.
So we call ourselves Made toEncourage because our story
encourages others.
So I try to use that as alittle bit of a platform and get
a chance to talk to people.
(08:05):
But I like to make things thatbring a smile to somebody's face
and hopefully will brightentheir space.
And she reached out to me lastyear and just said hey, I really
like your stuff.
I have a store.
Do you want to sell here?
And I was like, yeah, sure,let's check this out.
When I walked in her store itwas just like, yes, I want to be
(08:26):
a part of this.
This is exactly what I want.
And she was just so lovely andso delightful to be around.
And we joke that when I dropoff things to set up my space in
her store it's supposed to be afive-minute little chat and it
ends up being like 30, 45minutes of us just going
da-da-da-da-da-da andencouraging each other and
sharing stories.
And you know, she's just great.
(08:46):
Tori's just like truly one ofmy most favorite people, oh
thank you, she's really reallycool.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
So tell us about you said one of this was your
bestseller.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Yeah, this is one of our bestsellers.
This is called Wake Up Call.
I have them in different colors.
I certainly can do things in.
I had a woman reach out to meand ask if I could do a piece in
her, her company colors.
So we do brand colors.
We can do anything that'scustom, almost anything, and
every once in a while she'll,tori, will say hey.
So I have a new vendor that'sdoing X, y, z, and she happened
(09:19):
to mention that she has a pet ora dog a vendor coming in.
So I started making some dogand pet pieces as well so that
she can again incorporate theminto what she's selling.
And then you know, if I sellstuff, she sells stuff.
She's successful, right?
So if I'm selling something,she's being successful.
It's a beautiful littlerelationship.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Symbiotic relationship.
Yeah, do you have moreavailability for artists?
Speaker 5 (09:43):
We have a few more.
We just brought in four moreyesterday, so I'm down to
another piece of paper andpencil.
My husband's holding me.
I should probably calm down,hey, babe.
But yeah, every once in a whileI get ideas and I'm literally
like pen paper.
Now I have it.
And he's like right now we'rehaving ice cream.
(10:04):
I'm like, right now I just gotthe idea, so give me two more
weeks and probably a little bitmore space, but we had four
awesome vendors move inyesterday that we're really
excited about, and now I got togo back to the drawing board.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
That's good.
Slow growth is good.
Yeah, it's exciting, but acompilation of all these great
things can't speak today.
That you're talking about iswhat encouraged us to first
reach out to you, because wewere seeing that you were going
outside of your brick and mortar.
(10:36):
A lot of businesses just sitand wait for people to show up
and I think you are establishingyourself and making sure that
you're successful for yourselfand for these great friends
you're making and your makersand vendors that you have coming
in, but you have recently.
I think this coming weekendwill be your fourth, august will
(11:01):
be your fourth.
You're calling second Saturdayyes, and it's the second
Saturday of the month, and Ithink you have diligently just
worked out, reached out to touchevery downtown Statesville
business and say, hey, I want todo this thing, do you want to
be a part?
And they've embraced it.
Right, I'm really trying.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
I really had some help because I'm just one person
, it seems like it.
It seems like you've startedsomething really cool.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
So, tell us about it and tell us why everyone should
come out this weekend atDowntown Statesville and
experience Second Saturday.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Sure.
So Second Saturday, I guess,was denied Okay, backtrack.
So, like downtown does so manyawesome things and on those days
I feel like the downtownbusinesses we do so well and we
get to meet so many people andwe get returning customers, but
we always get to meet newcustomers.
We get people from near, we getpeople from far.
And you know, november I tookover in November November and
(11:56):
December were like wild, amazing, great.
And then you hit January andthen February we were cash
mobbed, which was so cool, andthen and it just, I think,
slowly just started like made merealize like ooh, these like
events are fun and they bring ina lot of people and we get to
meet people.
It's just, it's just a good dayfor I think, everybody downtown
(12:18):
, right.
And then I was talking to acouple of ladies.
We had like the calm manner,just open and stuff like that,
and we were just kind ofnetworking and we're like let's
do a sip and shop or this orthat.
So we came up with like a luckyevent for St Patrick's Day and
that was really great and we'relike huh.
And then Joe from Red Buffaloshook my hand and he's like hey,
I'm so-and-so and I I don'tknow if you want to do this, but
(12:40):
we're planning like a Mother'sDay out.
He's like let's do it.
I'm like okay, and then I likereached out to Liz.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Joe.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
Bondi's really good for that, yeah, and I was like,
okay, cool.
And then Liz Petrie fromdowntown reached out to her and
she was like you know, I'mwhat's your idea?
And I was like well, I just needsome help.
Maybe we could just get like acouple more people to like want
to join the party.
You know, and slowly but slowlybut surely it's grown from just
four or five businesses to six,seven, eight, and now in August
(13:08):
now just this upcoming week wehave I don't even know 20, maybe
more.
We just had another businessmeeting last week and we're
working on improving it.
We had a couple little hiccupson the last one, but we're just
really excited to inviteeverybody in and we also have,
so it's not just the storefrontsthat are doing things, but
we're also inviting localvendors in.
So it's just another way.
(13:30):
Like my store is only so big, Ican only fit in so many things.
Obviously I love to supportlocal, so this just gives more
local businesses to have apresence.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
So it would be like a sort of pop-up sort of thing.
Yeah, it's like, oh, we don'thave space right now, but we're
going to have this event, yeah,so we have 20 stores
participating, let's say, andnow we can have 20 pop-up
vendors.
Speaker 5 (13:49):
And it's just fun.
And it gives the communitysomething to come do and come
say hi.
At our last one, we had peoplefrom out of town coming in.
We had people that were like wepicked you for a ladies night
out and you know whatever.
And I'm like woohoo, likethat's cool, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
So I love that Well and I think it's a cool
opportunity too for people tosee our downtown and some of
these vendors, businesses,whatever that may not have a
regular presence here Right Cansee oh gosh.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
Maybe I'm interested in investigating that further
Sure, so certainly a greatexposure.
It just gets more feet downhere.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Absolutely, I just like to have a good time, you
mentioned Liz and I would saythe team at Downtown Statesville
Development Corporation, butit's a team of one.
Now, just like you said, I'mone person and I think it's
really cool, because I don'tthink they're used to someone
coming to them with a solutionand, hey, I want to do this, is
it okay?
(14:39):
They're used to someone comingto them with a problem or saying
I need you to do this for meand their workload's already so
big.
So if they can just lift up andsupport a solution that
someone's bringing them, itmakes it.
It turns into a really coolthing.
It seems like that's what'shappening for you guys.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
I didn't expect all this, but it's been a nice,
pleasant surprise.
What started as just four orfive shops getting together and
saying you know, hey, let's seewhat we can do for a Thursday
from 5 to 7 has turned into oncea month party.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
I think that's awesome.
And to Cindy's point, I meanthat's you know we deal with a
lot with the city as well isthat people often just come with
a hey, what can you know, howcan you fix this or what can you
do.
So when somebody does come toyou with an idea and some energy
, you want to help lift thatperson up and you know you're
not taking on the significantpiece of the burden.
You know it's like well, we cancertainly support you, we can
(15:35):
help get your messaging out.
So I think Cindy's right.
I mean coming with an idea andthen yeah, well, yeah, Broken
clocks rock twice a day.
That was my second analogy.
I'm glad I didn't go with thefirst one, but no,
congratulations, I think that'soutstanding and you're bringing
vibrancy to our downtown, whichis amazing.
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Thank you.
It's really a team effort, likeI appreciate everybody.
I don't know I'm strugglingtaking like all the credit
because it's not just me, I justWell, we only have two extra
stools.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
I just have a cream.
So I mean, it's you know?
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I just have this idea .
I'll take a little bit ofcredit.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Tori wanted to invite a whole bunch of people, but we
had a limited amount of seating.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
I was like okay, I'll just bring one, sure we tag you
in the comments.
You're all awesome too, but shesaid no, I'm kidding, I'm
kidding.
We're already very close.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
I was going to say people are used to that from me,
tori.
No, you're the best.
I appreciate it.
So we're very excited about it.
So it's happening this comingweekend on Saturday, the second
Saturday in August, and thenyour intention is just to keep
growing it and keep it goingevery second Saturday.
Now, one thing we didn't talkabout is you have more than just
second Saturday going on at theMercantile and Broad.
(16:43):
You have lots of pretty coolevents, don't you?
I've seen some other events.
We do try, yeah, so talk alittle bit about some of those.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
Yeah, so I don't know , I just grew up Italian.
I grew up with a big family.
I like to hang out with people.
That's good.
So we just kind of get creativeand come up with ideas, whether
it be a ladies' night or lastweek we did Christmas.
In July we had Foster Love,adopt, repeat, a local foster
(17:11):
organization, come in and we allgot to have fun doing that.
And just because we have somany makers, sometimes we get to
do DIY.
So we've done like trucker hatbars, make your own this, make
your own that, and we just havefun.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
When are you going to do another one of the trucker
hat things?
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Well, saturday, when do you want?
Speaker 1 (17:30):
it.
Come on out, richard.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Here's the cool thing too If somebody wanted to like
throw a party, have a party, wecould do that too.
Like we do customs, we doparties, we do fundraisers, I
mean.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
That's great to mention.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Yeah, I just thought of that right now, for people
who might oh, you know, we'vegot a group of friends, we get
together but we struggle forthings to do.
I mean, I think there aregroups out there that probably
my buddies and I don't strugglefor things to do.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
You don't want to have a trucker hat party.
Well, maybe Now that I knowthat's an option.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
That's very possible.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
But I think that you're throwing your hat in that
ring and that, hey, here'sanother activity that you can
throw in the mix Contact youguys, and coordinate it?
Speaker 5 (18:09):
I don't know.
We just like to think we havefun inside.
That's outstanding.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
So pretty much any holiday coming up in the future
people should at least look andcheck and see.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
I wonder what the Mercantile Unbrought has.
So the cool thing too is wehave new stuff all the time.
I think it's cool because thevendors are constantly rotating
stuff.
When they have an idea and theymake something, they bring it
in.
They don't have to wait.
They just got to restock theirspace and whatever their
creative idea is that week ormonth, that's what it is.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Have you done kids workshops?
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Yes, we have.
We have one coming up on the17th.
Okay, yeah, we have stuff allthe time.
She's got it all.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
It sounds that way.
So you know, Richard said sofour-year-olds just raising
themselves all year round,working all the time.
Now, now, now, nice return.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
My little now, now, now, my little Levi is.
He's my biggest fan.
I don't know, you have to fightme anyway.
No, but I do, because I have somany makers we can have power.
Like, when she comes over Ihave to kick her out.
Just keeps talking.
No, but we just, we're always.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
It's very true, but it's just like that.
She gets a look on her face.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
No, I'm kidding, she's so cute no, but because
there's so many people involvedin the store, we can come up
with an idea for just aboutanything.
So that's why, when people comein, we're like well, what's
your idea?
Give us 10 days, maybe we canmake it happen.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
It's sort of like the analogy.
We're talking about the secondSaturday event.
It's like somebody great, let'sfigure out how to do it, and so
you've got people coming to youwith ideas, which certainly
helps with that collaborativeeffort and energy.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Yeah, so we mentioned make sure people go out and
look to see what you've gotcoming up.
Tell people how they can go outand look.
Tell us how we can find you onsocial media website.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Sure, so the Mercantileroadnccom is our
website, and then we have theMercantile On Broad, facebook
and Instagram, and then we'relocated at 108 West Broad Street
in downtown Statesville.
And what are your hours?
11 to 6, tuesday, wednesday,thursday, friday is 11 to 7.
And Saturday is 10 to 5.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah, you've expanded your hours, so thank you for
doing that.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
I think it makes it easier for people to come see
you doing that.
Yeah, I think it makes iteasier for people to come see
you.
Yay, and then May 10, courageis also.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
How do we we're on Facebook and Instagram?
Yeah, I do local art shows andcraft shows in North Carolina
and I have a storefront.
I have a space at thestorefront.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
And she'll be with us this Saturday.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
on our second Saturday, I'm going to be a
pop-up vendor, so I get to talkto people, which I love doing.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Yeah, so find some of these great items at Mercantile
and Broad.
Well, we really appreciate youguys being here and so normally
when we well, I'll say this aminute I do want to say that the
Discover Statesville show ismade possible by the Statesville
Convention and Visitors Bureau,driving visibility and tourism
(20:57):
for Statesville, North Carolina.
So we're very appreciative ofthat.
And that sounded like I justsaid I'm appreciative of myself,
but it's the board of directorswho allow us to do this, to
bring the behind the scenes ofwhat's happening in Statesville
to the forefront.
So we're very appreciative ofthat.
And normally when we saygoodbye, we wave, but I saw Tori
and her friends did this greatreel that everyone's been doing.
(21:20):
So I think when we say goodbyetoday I don't know, I don't know
.
I have no idea what's about tohappen.
I don't know where you're goingwith this, really.
Yeah, so for Second Saturday,instead of waving goodbye, we're
going to say Thanks,statesville, see you next time.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Yay, thank you for joining Discover Statesville.
You can email us at discover atstatesvillenccom.
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