Who We Are

Maureen Berg is an artist who creates paintings, handmade cards, painted glassware. Maureen also makes Memory Bears, converting a loved ones shirt or sweater into a huggable bear. She also sells cookbooks, Rada knives and hand made flatbread.

Kathy Bergren hunts garage sales and auctions looking for good finds. She also repurposes sweaters into mittens, old bottles into light displays and old furniture into beautiful shabby chic pieces. Kathy sells old local cookbooks and interesting finds at market including color changing mugs from Ollee Bees and lazer cut ornaments. She is one of our foodies and sells Dipstix, a Minnesota seasoning for making dips and salsa, as well as home made jams.

​Carol Carlson has spent years at craft fairs and she knows a new fad almost before it happens. Carol specializes in scarves, waterfall vests and jewelry. She and her husband Larry create wood ornaments for all seasons and all situations - indoors or out. When Carol puts a new item in the shop, you want to buy it fast because it will sell fast. Because much of her inventory is handmade, Carol will replenish it rapidly and also take special orders. She also sells the book Harold, the Angel of Christmas, written by their daughter Tessa.​

​Maggie Driscoll finds unusual Christmas decorations for the Mercantile on Main and sells lots of 70's collectibles. She works on the display area of the shop, changing items around to bring new things to the attention of our shoppers.

Joan Ellison spends much of her time raising sheep and writing. Her involvement with the shop includes selling hand dyed yarns, her own yarns in the colors of her sheep, carded wool roving, and sewing, knitting and crocheting supplies. She also sells books about her sheep for kids and adults. Another foodie, Joan supplies raw honey from their farm to the Mercantile

Sharee Femling brings something completely different to the shop.Sharee works leather. She creates beautiful tooled leather belts, key chains, hat bands, knife sheaths, and water bottle holders. She makes bolo ties with leather and silver/gold conchos. Sharee also does saddle repair and can be reached for special orders through the shop.

Wendy Hoadley was excited when she retired to be able to spend more time crafting and to become a partner in the Mercantile. She makes seasonal decor, home decor, bags, pouches, and lotions. She also sells herbal teas and used jigsaw puzzles.

​Dawn Johnson is our resident embroiderer. She creates embroidered towels and aprons, sells hand crocheted hats and cup holders (she is responsible for those amazing sock monkey cup warmers), and sews wool mittens from felted wool sweaters. Like many of the partners, Dawn also finds collectibles.

​Kathy Knuteson-Olson has several interests in the Mercantile on Main. She sells Asian groceries from her daughter's store and she is a ferocious antique hunter specializing in metals - door knobs, hinges, old enamel pans and buckets. She provides antique shelving and cupboards for display which are also for sale. Kathy makes sure that the shop always has Pelican statues in stock.

Melanie Michels and her family farm. The fruits of their labors show up at the shop as locally raised, hormone free beef and eggs. Melanie also paints farm related signs for the rural or 'wish we were rural' home.

Andrea Rinkel-Jessen's imagination is constantly working. She translates things she sees in the world around her into art Andrea creates lovely batik pictures, handmade beaded bracelets and necklaces, tiny felted dolls and ornaments. She also sells tie dyed shirts, scarves and bags. Andrea's work is like so much else at the Mercantile - unique and beautiful."

Judy Tabbut is always in motion, either sewing or running errands for the shop or the community. Judy makes fleece throws for all ages, wool mittens from felted sweaters and appliqued dish and hand towels. She also provides Pelican Rapids tshirts and sweatshirts for people of all ages and sizes. Over the years, Tervis Tumblers have become a big part of Judy's stock. She is also a an inveterate garage sale and auction fan.

​Arlinda Toffefson comes to the partnership with a background in flower arrangements and wreaths. She rapidly expanded into incredible Folkmanis puppets, making the Mercantile on Main the only shop in the area to sell these lifelike, snugly stuffed animals. Arlinda also loves finding unique and inexpensive holiday items and paper napkins.

Tammy Ziegler loves antiques. When she sold her shop in Barnesville, she joined the Mercantile and added antique glassware, toys, kitchen stuff, collectibles and vintage clothing to our "something for everyone" variety.

Linda Zsedeny has a quirky individual artistic sense that delights people. Her creations include "Ugly Sweater" Christmas decorations, hand painted stones and pheasant feather earrings. After years of working We Fest, she knows the importance of cooling sweat bands and warming hot socks and offers both through the shop. Her husband Gene's nature photographs are also for sale.