One of the oldest businesses in Platte County is closing its doors. KMBC 9 spoke with the current owner about what led to the difficult decision to close, and his plans for the future. Walking through the doors of the Farley Mercantile is like stepping back in time to the 1900s, but the reality of 2022 has dealt a devastating blow. “I love retail and I love the interaction of the people coming in and out,” said owner Greg Trial, “but there’s a certain breaking point.”The Farley Mercantile first opened on Main Street in Farley, Missouri, in 1872 and was rebuilt in 1900 after a fire. Over its 150-year history, it’s seen several owners and even shuttered for years. Trial was hopeful about bringing the business back to life. After buying the historic Platte County general store in late 2019, he persisted through the pandemic despite numerous challenges. Now, as the pandemic wanes, inflation is making it more costly to fill the shelves. “You know, you raise the price of gas, so now to get this jar of jelly or to get a bottle of milk or whatever you’re selling in your store, the price goes up because you have to put it on a truck,” he said.Inflation is also causing customers to cut back. “So they’re not traveling out like they were, they’re not spending that disposable income that they used to have,” he said. “It’s just not going into small business.”After months of grappling with the difficult decision, he made the call to close. “It’s brutal, I mean, there’s a lot of history here,” he said. “You just have to, at one point, pull the plug and say enough is enough. Retail brick and mortar mom and pops, it’s tough. It’s really tough.”One thing Trial will miss most about the shop is his youngest customers. “I think the ones it hurts the most are the kids in our neighborhood,” he said. “We have all the children just love coming into the store.” While this chapter in the building’s history is ending, Trial plans to use it for other business ventures moving forward. “It’s not the end of the story,” he said, “just the mercantile.”The Farley Mercantile will close at the end of June. Trial plans to bring it back for a Christmas pop-up in November and December.
One of the oldest businesses in Platte County is closing its doors. KMBC 9 spoke with the current owner about what led to the difficult decision to close, and his plans for the future.
Walking through the doors of the Farley Mercantile is like stepping back in time to the 1900s, but the reality of 2022 has dealt a devastating blow.
“I love retail and I love the interaction of the people coming in and out,” said owner Greg Trial, “but there’s a certain breaking point.”
The Farley Mercantile first opened on Main Street in Farley, Missouri, in 1872 and was rebuilt in 1900 after a fire. Over its 150-year history, it’s seen several owners and even shuttered for years. Trial was hopeful about bringing the business back to life.
After buying the historic Platte County general store in late 2019, he persisted through the pandemic despite numerous challenges. Now, as the pandemic wanes, inflation is making it more costly to fill the shelves.
“You know, you raise the price of gas, so now to get this jar of jelly or to get a bottle of milk or whatever you’re selling in your store, the price goes up because you have to put it on a truck,” he said.
Inflation is also causing customers to cut back.
“So they’re not traveling out like they were, they’re not spending that disposable income that they used to have,” he said. “It’s just not going into small business.”
After months of grappling with the difficult decision, he made the call to close. “It’s brutal, I mean, there’s a lot of history here,” he said. “You just have to, at one point, pull the plug and say enough is enough. Retail brick and mortar mom and pops, it’s tough. It’s really tough.”
One thing Trial will miss most about the shop is his youngest customers. “I think the ones it hurts the most are the kids in our neighborhood,” he said. “We have all the children just love coming into the store.”
While this chapter in the building’s history is ending, Trial plans to use it for other business ventures moving forward.
“It’s not the end of the story,” he said, “just the mercantile.”
The Farley Mercantile will close at the end of June. Trial plans to bring it back for a Christmas pop-up in November and December.