As the city of Nappanee celebrates the 150th anniversary of its founding, the downtown sector that was destined for promise and prosperity all those years ago is now as vibrant and bustling as it’s ever been.
And while there are countless stories and legendary visionaries to which that success can be attributed, it seems that one enduring strategy has been the key to decades of community vitality – embrace the ideas of the future, and honor the people and places that have gone before.
That was precisely the challenge that was presented to local entrepreneurs Marcus and Debra Miller several years ago, with the closure of the historic landmark business known as Martin Hardware, a longtime fixture on the East Market Street business landscape. The business was owned and operated for several decades by multiple generations of the Martin family, most recently by Dennis Martin.
The Millers were keenly aware that the departure of a beloved family enterprise would be bittersweet, leaving an emptiness that would be nearly impossible to rebuild.
Neighbors Mercantile is the result of a long-nurtured vision brought to fruition by the Millers. They spent two years lovingly renovating the revered building prior to its official opening in June of 2022. Both husband and wife saw beyond the open space, realizing the potential to create something that would be both family focused and practical.
“We wanted to make sure we maintained the integrity of the building and space, as there are many family members, staff and customers that remember the space as Martin Hardware, and we didn’t want to remove that important part of history from the downtown,” Debra Miller recalled. ”We wanted to build off of that foundation, while creating something that would hopefully be accepted and useful for the people who live in Nappanee today.”
Miller said she recently had a memorable encounter with a longtime customer of Martin Hardware. While wandering through the three-story structure, he could remember exactly which products were located in various spots around the building. He shared with the Millers that he was happy to discover that Neighbors had successfully retained that familiar, hometown atmosphere.
“We felt it was important to have it recognizable, and for that reason, we have the baking and cookware, for example, on the same wall that the hardware store did,” Miller said. “We have the fishing and the camping products upstairs, similar to how it was previously as well. While a lot of it has changed, we tried to honor the space wherever we could.”
The Millers are quite well-versed in the subject of downtown revitalization. The couple also owns and operates the Main Street Roasters group of businesses, including the immensely popular coffee house and restaurant. The lively social hub is literally at the heart of the city, on the northeast corner of U.S. Highway 6 and Indiana State Road 19.
Interestingly, it was the feedback from customers that served as a source of inspiration for the Millers to pursue the new endeavor that became Neighbors.
“We often heard our guests at Main Street ask what else they can do, or where they can go after they were done having coffee or meeting for lunch,” Miller explained.
Inspiration, she noted, was not far away at any given moment.
“We love how the town of Nappanee is slowly developing and, one by one, buildings are transforming, especially in the downtown area,” she said. “Our goals were to create another retail place to visit in the downtown area. We are continuing to expand and develop our outdoor and camping gear, cookware, children’s apparel, and specifically excited about our general store section where we stock seasonal products and fun, limited-edition affordable finds. Our goal is to always provide quality and unique items, to make sure we stand out with great service, rewards programs and helpful staff.” She adds that much of this cannot always happen at big-box stores, or when purchasing items online.
The Millers have been exceptionally grateful to able to build out this venture in a town that has welcomed them and encouraged their growth. ”It is amazing, and we feel the Nappanee community is unique in that way and we thank God for it,” Miller says. “We want to thank the community for their continued support as Neighbors develops and takes shape. A new business is something that everyone has to take a chance on, and we are still fine-tuning and discovering what we’re missing, and what we’re getting right. Our goal is to provide excellent hospitality and service, whether it’s your first time, or you visit once or twice a week. We hope you feel like a neighbor, and you feel welcomed and loved at every visit.”
Neighbors Mercantile is located at 151 East Market Street in downtown Nappanee. They can be reached via phone at 574-773-7039. Visit their detailed website of products and services at neighborsmercantile.com.
Comments 1
What an awesome place to shop and spend time in and even better people who own the place.