Reminiscent of days gone by, The Local Mercantile is much like an original traditional trading post built in 1865. A mirage of small rooms, each filled with antiques, eclectic collectables and handmade items, walking through its doors is a step back into the rich ranching and farming western history of Lakeside itself.
Reminiscent of days gone by, The Local Mercantile is much like an original traditional trading post built in 1865. A mirage of small rooms, each filled with antiques, eclectic collectables and handmade items, walking through its doors is a step back into the rich ranching and farming western history of Lakeside itself.
Michelle Schmitz, owner, said she bought the business two years ago when she saw that the current owner was struggling and did not want to see everyone without a job. She said originally, she thought she could do a quick fix and then move on to something else.
“At least that was the plan,” said Schmitz. “I have another business. I deal with rental property and that keeps me pretty busy. And at that time, I also had my mother living with me. I had my hands full and didn’t need another business.”
But Schmitz could not stop the eclectic place from getting under her skin, she said. “I always loved the quilts, the old furniture, and I love to refinish furniture.”
Schmitz is the only “employee” of the store.
“Everyone that works here is a volunteer,” she said. “I could not do it any other way. I have five volunteers, sometimes six (me). I told them in the beginning not to count on me, they would not see me here, I am the money person. That lasted about six months.”
She said little by little, she now takes a much more active role. Her mother passed away in January at 92 and as much as she misses her, her mother told her beforehand told her she would have more time, be able to be at the store and all would be good.
Carol Matteson, one of the volunteer workers said the people that come into the store that motivate her to work. “Just to see the joy on their faces as they walk through the store,” she said. “They look around and see something and say, ‘I remember that from my grandmother’s house.’ And I tell them, I didn’t grow up with that, so share your memories with me.”
Matteson said it each day, with every customer is a learning process and she learns more and more about antiques and collectibles.
Schmitz said when people see something from there area, they come back bringing more and each worker has their own space that they keep up with every day, restocking and rearranging merchandise to sell.
“The people behind the register are the best at making sells because no one knows their area and merchandise as well as they do,” she said. “And I really depend on this staff. If I had to pay them, this store would close. It is enough right now just to keep up the rent, insurance and bills to keep the place running.”
That is incentive her to be proactive, said Matteson. To find more things that will sell, meeting people, doing Facebook and managing the website.
“I am trying to get more people in here,” she said. “Plus its building the camaraderie between the workers, the neighbors, the people that live in El Cajon, Alpine and even Ocean Beach. They come from all over.”
Schmitz said the collectibles they have are not out there and you will not find anything like their merchandise anywhere else in the county.
“It is a magic combination,” she said. “I am so blessed. It truly is the friendships that keep this place going. Everyone that works here feels the same way I do about this place.”
Almost every customer it is like walking down memory lane, said Matteson, and she get the joy of walking down those memories with them.
“It’s therapy just to be here,” said Schmitz. “So many times I have heard people say, ‘I wish I could come down here every week and just walk through and look at all the things you have in here and absorb all of this.’”
Schmitz said many customers see something they like and think it is a good idea to do it, go home and try it, but come back, more than willing to pay the price for the real deal, already done.
What used to be a pile of junk between the store and the neighboring Red Barn is now a garden patio with a quaint country style and pieces of history hanging on the walls. Equipped with nighttime lights, it is fully functional and available for company parties, family get-togethers and a soon coming wedding reception.
“I spoke to the owner of the building about a year ago,” she said. “I know you are renting this to the Red Barn, but they are using it for storage and it made everything look bad. With all the discards at the side of the building, it set the tone, and customers were always wanting a discount on the good merchandise in the store.”
Schmitz said she convinced the owner she could change the look and create an enjoyable space. He did not think she could do it, but she said she proved herself right.
“He is in awe of it,” she said. “We celebrated with a small catered event and he told me that he never thought I could turn it into such a peaceful garden. Especially in the evenings, with the lights, we do potlucks, birthday parties and the ‘Red Hat Society’ women love it.”
There is no drinking or smoking allowed on the premises, but Schmitz said that limits some people from using the garden, but that is okay with her. She said they did really well with Christmas parties over the holidays, with a price much lower than most places charge for the use of a facility and already has promised returning customers for use of the garden.
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It will build on its own,” she said. “We have a wonderful group of women, and one man, the jeweler, and everyone gets along really well and works hard.”
Adding the kitchen was a nice fixture, she said. With the coffee shop, homemade soups, salads, muffins and those types of foods, she said it is quite simple now, but hopes and expects it to become more advanced as things move along.
“But our coffee shop is a drive through and that is working out really well for us,” she said.
With its first large wedding reception coming in June, Schmitz asked how it was going to be decorated and the bride to be said she was leaving it just as it is, telling her, “’That’s what I love about this place, I don’t have to do anything to it.’”
For the items inside the Mercantile, Schmitz said they all had ways of finding good buys, going out on weekends, days off, hitting garage sales and managing estate sales. She said going and finding clients that need help with estate sales has proven to be a good source of merchandise.
Every one that works at the Mercantile loves to fix and repair things, she said and in many ways, it runs itself.
“We do a lot of shopping, people donate things, even leaving things on the front porch,” she said. “Some people come in and sell items because they need a little money and the girls working behind the register that day, know their sections, know what to buy and what they can turn over and buy items on the spot.”
