Notes from Town Square: The Green River Merc.

The Green River Mercantile is rich in history and has been home to many businesses; it was even a mortuary at one time.

Currently it houses the Southwestern Beauty Academy, Up, Up and Away Flowers and Balloons, and Tolly’s Coffee Shop. Susan Hehr is the owner and she gave me some background.

Susan’s grandfather built the store himself in 1905 where it began as a department store. Susan worked there with her mother until her mother passed away, at which time Susan took over the management of the business with the help of her family. After Susan lost her father, she decided to buy the Green River Mercantile because it was important to her to keep the business in the family and preserve all the hard work that had gone into building it. Susan says she doesn’t believe in throwing things away that people have invested so much time and effort in. One day, she hopes to pass the business on to her children and grandchildren.

Susan closed the department store in 1992 because it just wasn’t as successful as she’d hoped it would be, noting that one of the challenges of being a downtown business here is that Green River is a bedroom community to Rock Springs. It is too easy for people to just go there rather than to shop locally. Unfortunately, a lot of people will drive to Rock Springs if it will save them a dollar on an item. It is difficult to change that mindset. Additionally, she said that owning a business in boom or bust economies is a challenge all on its own.

When the opportunity came to buy the school, Susan jumped on it; she loved cosmetology and always wanted to be an instructor. Originally, the school was in Rock Springs; however Susan relocated it into the mercantile where it has been ever since. Susan still loves teaching and is very proud of her school.

Susan also attended floral school as an adult. As a result, she was inspired to launch Up, Up and Away Flowers and Balloons in addition to the Beauty Academy. The flower shop is very successful and draws many customers from Rock Springs as well as locals.

Tolly’s Coffee Shop is the newest addition to the Merc,, but that space has a history too. At one point it was a fabric store, another time it was a yarn store, there have been all kinds of businesses there over the years. Tolly’s has a nice ambiance and Susan said it is even home to a weekly coloring club.

Susan loves Green River and enjoys having her business downtown because downtown is home to her. She grew up in Green River and knows the history of all the houses and most of the people downtown. Susan says that she travelled enough earlier in her life, “And now I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”