If there’s one thing Ogdenites can agree on, it’s the love of the city’s history. Whether it be the Union Station 100 Year anniversary or the urban legends surrounding Prohibition and Al Capone, everyone shares in the unique history that keeps Ogden “untamed”. The former Union Bus Depot at the corner of historic 25th Street and Grant Avenue now bustles as The Mercantile, an eatery that perfectly fuses vintage Ogden with the momentum of revitalization. Honoring Ogden’s past, the reupholstered bench from the original bus station, featured prominently as you walk through the doors, serves as the perfect metaphor. Open five months and already the restoration of this building is getting noticed. Preservation Utah recently recognized The Mercantile with the Adaptive Reuse Award during their 2024 Community Stewardship Awards. Preservation Utah honors those residents, businesses, and visionary leaders who are committed to historic preservation.
With the outdoor patio open, the signage in place and a robust view of the street, The Mercantile has become a stop for those looking for a quick lunch or a beer with dinner before taking in an Ogden Twilight concert. Not long ago it was a vacant building with layers of dust from the previous businesses trying to make it a go—a bus depot, a Mexican restaurant, a deli, even a photo lab. It was the partnership of three local businesses-- Roosters Brewing Co., Beehive Cheese, and Kaffe Mercantile-- that brought the art deco building back to life. Kim Bowsher, chief executive officer of Roosters Hospitality says, “Two years ago Roosters was looking to have an office, a concept of bringing all of their locations, payroll, and all that into one place. This building came up for sale but knowing 25th Street deserves a much more activated space than an office, the immediate thought was to reach out to the boys at Kaffe Mercantile to see if they would be happy with a partner situation.”
Also looking to make a move to 25th Street, fatefully eyeing the same building as a possible location, Nick Morris and Lance Smith came on board followed by Britton Welsh, president of Beehive Cheese. “I wanted to see a little more Beehive Cheese downtown, so through my own entrepreneurial opportunities to connect Beehive Cheese with Roosters and Kaffe Mercantile, we started creating something special,” explains Welsh. “It’s been two years of start up with lots of interesting hurdles and personalities to get through but the community that’s come from that and the final product is beautiful. Not just how it looks but how it feels.”
Bowsher sees The Mercantile as just a piece in the puzzle of strengthening 25th Street, a goal she’s had since she served as executive director of the Ogden Downtown Alliance, stepping back last year to head up Roosters Hospitality. “I think this block being activated supports everything. Having this building vacant was just brutal during events like the car show or Harvest Moon. The marathon ends right here and there was just this dead space.” She goes on to say, “We wanted to create something that acknowledges all those brands, the partnerships and the relationships that are there but is uniquely its own thing and I think the audience here has been most definitively that.”
Getting The Mercantile off the ground took some remodeling of the space, working out the menu and honoring each person’s vision. This partnership also turned to Ogden City’s Business Information Center (BIC) for added financial support through its loan program. Julio Otay, Senior Project Coordinator for the BIC says, “The Business Information Center is a valuable resource for locally owned businesses in Ogden City that are seeking financial assistance to start, grow, and expand, especially if they are non-bankable. It takes both the vision of entrepreneurs and support from the community to keep businesses successful, in turn making Ogden a great place to live, work, and play.”
Three months in and The Mercantile is abuzz, whether it be folks looking for an afternoon coffee or stopping in during the First Friday Art Stroll (the next one set for July 5th). The Mercantile officially opened back in February, with Roosters Brewing Company and Restaurant Group owner, Kym Buttschardt saying, “We want love coming out the door.” The booths and tables are full, and the corner of Grant and 25th is busy once again, Buttschardt got her wish by restoring this historic building.
Welsh said it best, “This building has gone through so many iterations over the last 20 years, but we’ve had nothing but cheerleaders from our community. There is a lot of heart that goes into every plate. It’s just lining everyone up because it does take a village. Ogden isn’t just somewhere to be from, it’s somewhere to aspire to be.”