Michelle introduced Angelo Marra, owner of West Main Mercantile, a retail store located in Falconer, NY. The business supports over 60 small local businesses, artisans, retirees, and handcrafters. It is your one stop shop for handmade jewelry, handbags, clothing, home décor and gifts and includes an amazing selection of handmade candles, soaps, chocolate, candies, honey and maple syrup.
West Main Mercantile is a joint venture for Andy and his wife – they have no employees. Monday is their busiest day.
Born and raised in Falconer, they each bring two children to this marriage and are aged 20 to 23. Andy attended college at Brockport where he played baseball and received a marketing degree. They moved to Georgia where he worked in the marketing supply business and then changed to grocery distribution. Danielle had a painting business.
After recent fires that devastated Falconer and its business district, they were helping to remodel a friend’s business. They asked themselves why not buy one of the businesses and remodel it for their own purposes?
Andy thanked John Felton for assisting with the finance procedure.
After one purchase fell through, they bought the former Blue Fin – housed in a 126-year-old building. The two of them gutted the building and brought it back to life. The first floor is the business floor and there are four apartments upstairs.
Danielle was going to continue painting furniture as she had previously, utilizing FUSION MINERAL PAINT and all-in-one acrylic resin mineral paint which is perfect for interior or exterior DIY projects including furniture, kitchen cabinets, craft projects and more. All of Danielle’s furniture restorations are on sale in the store as well.
West Main Mercantile is now a local gift shop – featuring Chautauqua Soap Company, retail and production; Whizz ‘n Smash Peanut Butter, TBC Fine Nuts and Candies, Borsari, Grape Discovery Center, Cherri’s Cute Creations, Peterson’s Candies, and Crown Street Roasting Company.
The couple now realize they need to restore their quality of life – they are working 80-90 hours a week with no employees. Falconer has received $4.500,000 in revitalization funds from NYS and exciting changes loom ahead for the Village – Dunking Donuts should open before September; a large apartment complex has been sold, and there is interest in other buildings.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
Ang was asked if there is anything you wish he had known before opening the business? And he reiterated that with just the two of them, they have little time to do any extra things other than waiting on customers.
Covid saw many people making things at home and when Covid began waning, these crafters started traveling to craft shows. The Marras decided to give people a place to grow their small home businesses and then move on, like an incubator. They also became the storefront for “GO TO MEALS” which was located in Lakewood. Immediately it became popular offering a weekly rotating menu of healthy prepared, individually packaged meals at affordable prices. The Lakewood owner came to them as he wanted to close the Lakewood store, and they agreed to transfer the business to Falconer where they are now selling 800-1,000 meals per week.
With the Village of Falconer moving forward – the Marras want to be part of it.
Sharon Hamilton encouraged everyone to go and take a look.
The Marras tried opening the business seven days a week – but backed off to 6 days a week.
This business is the Marra’s baby and they haven’t been able to walk away and leave the place for others to run or manage quite yet, but are looking forward to that time.
President Michelle reminded everyone to check out the wonderful selection of BUFFALO BILLS merchandise coming in August – it is tremendous!
