Inspired by her late grandmother’s small-town flower shop and late aunt’s talent for interior decorating, Kate Traver opened The Mercantile at Mill + Grain in October 2018.

What started as a home store has evolved into a curated collection of apparel, accessories, home and kitchen fittings, gifts, apothecary items and more.

The background

Traver and her husband were living in Driftwood when, during a visit to Nate’s Coffee & Cocktails, she fell in love with Buda’s historic Main Street.

As a student at Southwest Texas State University, Traver worked her way through college as a sales associate at Francesca’s, a chain boutique that sells women’s clothing and accessories, and worked on the retailer’s management teams after graduation.

Traver said the stars aligned when a retail space opened at the Buda Mill & Grain Co.“It just hit me like a ton of bricks, where I was just like, I've been in retail for so long, I've been a buyer, I've done everything under the sun, that I really want to kind of open my own store,” she said.

When she opened the store, Traver sold mostly home and kitchen items, inspired by her late aunt’s house, which was her decor inspiration for her future home, and her late grandmother’s business.“I kind of just spent my summer days in her shop, trying to pretend like I was a store owner, and messing around with all her stuff,” Traver said. “Over time, I just kind of watched her do everything. I mean, she was like the town baker, she was the town wedding decorator, she was the florist. She kind of did everything.”

Staying local

Through the years, The Mercantile has expanded its selection to be more of a curated go-to gift shop. The shop sells candles, greeting cards, cookbooks, kitchen gear, men’s grooming kits, baby toys and more.

She said she listens to what people want to see in the shop and sources those items, most of which are from local and women-owned businesses.“[Small businesses are] really kind of the backbone of the community,” Traver said. “That's something that's been really important to me.”

Traver said about 80% of the store is also shoppable online, a feature she implemented during the pandemic.

Looking ahead

Traver is preparing to open The Mercantile’s sister concept called Mercantile at Home, at The Roundabout in Buda, an upcoming mixed-use community development, next year.

The store will be an extension of the items at the current shop with added furniture, rugs, wall decor, lamps and other home accents, including salvaged antique items.Traver said she wants both shops to offer unique items for everyone.

“I want to make sure that if you come into my store, you will always be met with a smile on your face,” Traver said. “I want to be as inclusive as possible, and that's something that's really important to me.”

• 304 S. Main St., Ste. 101, Buda
• www.themercantileatmillandgrain.com