Mercantile 37 Offers Custom Furnishings, Home Décor Products and Much More
Photographer / Eli Beaverson
Mercantile 37 is not only a destination where patrons can spend an enjoyable time shopping and eating – its also a slice of local history. Renovated by the Roudebush family, the former truck stop located on State Road 37 North houses a showroom filled with locally-made gifts, vintage knick-knacks and custom home décor crafted from reclaimed materials. Within the facility, Wheelers Cafe and Market offers locally-sourced beverages and food items.
My wife Emmas great-great uncle Cecil Scott built the truck stop, Scottys Inn, in 1940, Nick Roudebush says. In the 1970s it became Wheelers Restaurant, a diner. The building was vacant from 1999 to 2017, when we purchased it.
Truly a family business, Nick and Emma own Mercantile 37 with Nicks parents, J.R. and Kelly Roudebush. Family friends Neal and Angie Fine operate Wheelers Cafe and Market. Emma and Kelly act as showroom designers, while Nick and J.R. are responsible for assembling custom furnishings such as lighting, tables, chairs and stools, countertops, coffee and side tables, shelving and mantels, as well as reupholstering and repainting furniture. Most of the material used comes from old barns or inner-city salvage.
Mercantile 37 has items from a collective of local makers, Roudebush says. There are lots of routes a customer can go with their experience here. We offer various styles here – not just one. People can find modern farmhouse, mid-century modern or industrial chic. Our customers are fully engaged in the design process. For instance, a family of four might come in and want a table, but they want to be able to do crafts on it.
Stopping by Wheelers is a must when visiting Mercantile 37. Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, the cafe serves breakfast, lunch, local coffee and Indiana-brewed beer and spirits. Locally-grown organic produce and foodstuffs are available in the market for purchase.
Several special events are scheduled at Mercantile 37 for the upcoming months. On May 2, Spoil & Soil will offer customers the chance to buy locally-crafted Mothers Day gifts and organic heirloom vegetable starts. On June 13, Throwback Night will feature vintage cars, and music from previous decades.
I think folks that come in our showroom appreciate values like quality, custom, local and homemade, Roudebush says. We custom-build all of our furnishings to the customers needs, and right here on site.
Visit Mercantile 37 at 25625 State Road 37 North in Noblesville. Hours of operation are: Tue. by appointment; Wed. and Thu. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit Mercantile37.com or call 765-734-1683 for more information.
