Small Business Summer Series: Harper’s Mercantile in Antigo

I’ve driven through Antigo over a hundred times as a child on the way up north to visit my Aunt in Rhinelander. In all of our trips I never ventured off the main path to notice the impressive stand of old main street businesses that at one time must have boasted a variety of department stores, restaurants and hotels. As these store fronts find their new footing in a changing retail climate, one sharp striped awning stood out and welcomed us in.

Harper’s Mercantile has already put in the work of reinventing their space, giving a curious shopper like me a reason to notice things like the exposed brick and the old doors turned into displays.

Or the antique and refurbished furniture used for merchandising around the store.

Or the great little Creamery ice cream shoppe within the shop. Complete with a cute seating area, neon signage and greenery wall.

The old building may not have benefited from an authentic pressed tin ceiling, but they made the best of their height by creating walls within the space and using a sloped roof on the ice cream shop that they covered in a corrugated tin.

And they added the missing antique tin look with the design of the fudge case at the front of the store.

They have done a nice job of taking a large open building and dividing it into areas that are made more interesting by the vintage feel they are given. The backdrop to this display of soaps and lotions is an old time farmhouse kitchen cabinet and over sized sink.

Harper’s Mercantile is a pleasant mix of clothing, antiques, refinished furniture, body care items, candles and other unique finds.

And speaking of unique finds- I found a strange little accessory that I had wanted to use as a decoration for our summer theme party but hadn’t pulled the trigger on ordering them from Ebay. With no tag, I brought them to the counter for a price and the cashier said she’d have to check with the owners, who happened to be in back.

When she returned she told me there was no charge- that I could have them. It was so strangely random to walk in there and find them and even more strangely awesome to be gifted them.

It made my day!

Which is how I came to buy almost $20 worth of very delicious fudge out of sheer gratitude.

So their random act of kindness was a good business move. And Harper’s Mercantile will now be one of those places I will think of when I think of Antigo.

I hope they thrive and that more businesses join them in reviving downtown main street America!