Community-Owned Stores: New Anchors for Older Main Streets

Date: 1 Mar 2008 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The success of the Powell Mercantile has inspired at least half a dozen other towns in Wyoming, Montana, and Nevada—all too small and remote to interest national or regional chains—to open their own department stores. The concept is now spreading to the much more populous Northeast, where local residents are seeking community-focused alternatives to big-box retailers.… Read More

Community-Owned Stores Provide Alternative to Chains

Date: 1 Apr 2004 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

RKG concluded that Middlebury consumers are spending nearly $7 million elsewhere each year and recommended that the city stem the leakage by enticing Wal-Mart to build a supercenter. But many Middlebury residents refuse to accept the inevitability of the low-wage retailing giant. They have their own ideas about solving Middlebury’s dilemma. They want to open a community-owned department store in the center of town.… Read More

Wyoming Town Latest to Open a Community-Owned Store

Date: 1 Feb 2003 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The town of Powell, Wyoming, is one of a growing number of places where residents are opening community-owned department stores. More than 800 shares of stock in the Powell Mercantile, priced at $500 each, were purchased by approximately 500 local investors. The 10,000-square-foot store, which sells mostly mid-range clothing and shoes, opened in July and has turned a profit ever since. … Read More