Page 60 - 2025 Van Buren Chamber Community Profile

THE CHAMBER

Entrepreneur and Non-Profit of the Year

Award Winners Named

Entrepreneur of the Year
Main Street Mercantile
The Main Street Mercantile is a
cooperative that supports, encourages and
equips other small businesses, and offers
a shopping experience on Main Street like
none other.
Containing products and dreams of
over 40 small businesses within its walls,
the Mercantile serves as a collaborative
that provides great customer service to
shoppers while supporting start-ups and
small businesses while they expand.
Over the past year and a half, the
Mercantile has also been a catalyst for many
collaborations outside of the store itself,
acting as a shining example of what can Owners of Main Street Mercantile (l. to r.), Shannon Gross and Tracy Burba, receive
happen when businesses, non-profits and their 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Chamber Board Member, Dr. Philip
individuals work together for a common Morton. Photo courtesy of The Chamber.
purpose.
In 2023, Main Street Mercantile was show off and great stories to share.”
The mission statement for Main Street a part of The Chamber’s “Connecting
Mercantile is embedded in the floor of Non-Profit of the Year
Educators to Industry” event. That initiative
the business. It says, simply “Main Street has proven valuable for both VBSD and Crawford County Volunteers for
Mercantile strives to shine a light for local Literacy
the Mercantile, creating a relationship that
businesses on Main Street.” resulted in student-run Pointer Place joining According to statistics, 21% of people
When sisters Shannon Gross and
the collaborative, giving their merchandise in Crawford County struggle with literacy,
Tracy Burba were given an opportunity by Main Street visibility and business hours and are limited by an inability to read and
Marcia Cooksey to have their clothing in a
beyond school times. comprehend written communications.
storefront on Main Street, they felt like they “We’re excited about the future of Main That limitation created the need for an
had “arrived.” That feeling provided the
Street, and expect to be here a long time,” organization that was founded in 1987
impetus to pass along that opportunity to
Tracy added. “As we grow and our members to provide the tutoring and mentorship
as many other small businesses as possible. evolve, there will always be new things to that prepares them for a better future –
The store now offers clothing, home
decor, tropical plants, homemade goods
and an irresistible gourmet section.
“We’re very happy to be a stepping
stone for businesses who need the exposure
on Main Street but may not be able to
afford to have a location all to themselves,”
said Shannon. “We can help them with that
Main Street feel and keep their cost to a
minimum.”
Both sisters have been deeply involved
in the Old Town Merchants Association.
Shannon chairs the “Jingle & Mingle on
Main” Christmas Festival, while Tracy is a
board member of Keep Van Buren Beautiful.
60 Van Buren Chamber 2025 Community Profile vanburenchamber.org