When it comes to Powell, you can always count on the right people doing the right thing at the right time. Such was the case in 2001 when a group of local citizens worked together to rescue our local Bent Street from financial decay.

A chain store had closed its doors, leaving a gaping hole in the downtown business district. So a committee was formed to search out options. Before long the group had heard of a community-owned store in Plentywood, Mont., that had tackled a similar crisis in 1999. This town of 2,000 residents in northeastern Montana had sold shares to finance a successful hometown mercantile.

Soon a similar plan was formulated for Powell. Shares were sold to those who dared to invest in the new venture and an elected board of the city’s best businessmen and women oversaw the staffing, stocking and propagation of a new business on Bent Street that would be called The Merc.

Now over a decade later the shareholders of Powell Mercantile, Inc., have communicated their will to save The Merc from imminent closure. They have hope that with a new board at the helm, the proper niche will be found for their hometown store to again become lucrative.

Most assuredly, the right people, doing the right thing at the right time will again make the difference.

But we all have a part.

In the early days of The Merc’s existence, I did the bulk of my Christmas shopping there for my children and grandchildren who live on the East Coast. They were always grateful to receive the quality gifts that I could buy in such a small town as Powell and I was proud to say they had come from The Merc.

I bought a new blouse there to wear to my graduation from Northwest College in 2006. I also found a number of coordinated outfits for my mother at our community-owned store that were to her specific liking and in her petite sizes. And I wore out several pairs of Skechers shoes that I had purchased from The Merc.

Then someone introduced me to online shopping.

I quickly discovered that I could find discounted items that would be shipped free of charge to my family and friends without the hustle and bustle of purchasing, wrapping and mailing. Before long I was not stopping by The Merc as often or giving any thought to what it takes to keep a small town thriving.

I was impressed by The Merc’s growth and expansion and saddened by its cutback to a single store front. Meanwhile, still choosing convenience over loyalty, I found myself complaining about the lack of merchandise that had previously drawn me into that favorite store on Bent Street. 

Is it worth it all? I would wonder as I read news accounts of the store’s falling numbers.

Apparently the stockholders thought so. They have spoken with their vote. A proposal to liquidate and dispose of assets was defeated 277-114, and the proposal to dissolve the corporation was defeated 261-117 at the shareholders’ annual meeting Jan. 8.

Kudos to the outgoing board who worked painstakingly to keep the store afloat in recent dismal times. The hard work of Sharon Earhart, Susan Richards, Diane DeLozier, Kelly Brandt and Keith Sande deserves acknowledgement as they step aside in favor of new blood. Let it be said that they could not have been more dedicated to the cause or diligent in their oversight of The Merc.

Outgoing president Earhart says they will work with the new board during the time of transition.

And now let the home fires be stirred as Marcia Martin, Cindy Jacobs, Martin Garhart, Toby Bonner and John Wetzel take the helm of the ship. May they find the new course to bring breakthrough to our beloved Merc.

Let’s hope our hometown mercantile will come out of her eddy and sail on to her intended destiny.