Rumble: What inspired you to open Pigeon River Mercantile? 

Lisa: As my husband and I were working to upgrade and remodel the building, there were so many people that stopped in and were just excited for something to be happening.  At the time, we were planning on either renting out or flipping the building.  But as we were piecing the building back together,  I began to see visions of displays in my head!  It was not at all in my mind to have a store before we spent all the time working on that old but charming building!

Rumble: Are you from Haywood County? Tell us a little about your background. 

Lisa: My grandparents are the main family that are from Haywood County.  My grandfather was from Dutch Cove and my grandmother from Henson Cove.  Both were active at Spring Hill Baptist Church.  I spent many summers here and loved every moment I spent with them.  I have lived in Asheville most of my life, but because of my closeness with grandparents, Canton feels like home too!  We now live in Canton.

Rumble: What do you enjoy about owning a business in downtown Canton? 

Lisa: I enjoy the people and creating a fun experience for them. Everyone has been so kind to us.  It was very interesting as we first opened, people wanted to know where we were from.  Folks were concerned about who was moving into their hometown.  I love this small milltown from the families, neighbors, and connections.  I love the school spirit here. I love it when someone comes into the store that knew my grandparents!  I love when folks come in to see if we are ok during  the difficult challenges Haywood County has faced in the last 5 years.   

Rumble: For people who haven't had the joy of visiting your store yet, tell us what you offer. 

Lisa: We are just a little mom and pop shop doing the best we can.  We carry apparel for men & womenfolk, local art, candles, jewelry, stained glass, antiques, floral finds, vintage records, home goods, stickers, hand-crafted pottery and many other fun treasures.  We also have custom Canton hats, tees, and sweatshirts.

Rumble: What are your concerns in the wake of the mill closure? 

Lisa: My concerns are first for the employees that are losing their jobs and for their families. We are a milltown, so our identity is a definite concern. There are so many great things about Canton like the open green space, the river, and our beautiful mountains.  I want to keep an identity of our own. We have a big heart here, lots of love for family and community,  there is a peace here in this place. Our people have grit and sparkle, beauty, and a little dirt from the garden.  We don't want to lose this and be turned into something else.

Rumble: What is something people can do to help brighten the spirits of those affected by the situation at the mill?

Lisa: I think the main thing is to be kind and considerate, different people have differing feelings about the situation and there is no right answer. I've been thinking a lot about family, friends and neighbors losing their jobs at the mill.  Maybe this new phase could be an opportunity for these folks to find that job they've always dreamed of or create the job they have always dreamed of. This is a bittersweet time where they could even band together to create a new business here in Canton, a business where they have no shift work, a business where they create their own schedule!  If we can look up during these trying times, there’s sure to be a silver lining. Sometimes we just have to seek it out.

Rumble: In Rumble, we always like to offer advice and inspiration. If there is a woman out there reading this who has a goal of opening her own business, what would you say to her? 

Lisa:  Life is short.  Don't be afraid to fail,  you may actually succeed!  If you never try,  you will always wonder what if.  

Pigeon River Mercantile has a fun and active Facebook page. Be sure to follow along!