Couple opens mercantile in Burrton

A conversation about having to drive for miles to get a loaf of bread or meat led to the opening of The Burrton Mercantile.

Nik Sanders said his wife, Vickie, was having such a conversation and suggested they do something about it. That “it” is the store at 209 N. Burrton Avenue. The store officially opened Oct. 6 and is open seven days a week — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.

Nik Sanders said the store’s wares are “rather eclectic,” drawing inspiration from old-time mercantile stores. There are some groceries, cleaning supplies, clothes and even consignment antiques.

It’s not the Sanders’ first time to own a business. They owned a jewelry store in Arizona prior to moving to Burrton a couple of years ago to be close to Nik’s brother in Hutchinson. And years ago, Nik and his brother were partners in a Native American business in the Hutchinson mall. Nik said he was a “semi-silent partner,” sending his brother items from the southwest where he lived.

The Sanders, who both are nurses, have spent time reworking the historical building. It used to be a cafe, and Nik said they’ve encountered some difficulty covering up the grease. They also refurbished the original embossed metal ceiling.

“The ceiling is what sold me on the building,” he said.

The community has responded very well, Nik said. People stop by to talk about the history of the building. And he said he is seeing a mindset of people wanting to invest in Burrton — “bringing money a little closer to home.” Plus, he said, it’s easier to shop for groceries a couple of miles away than 15 miles away.

Nik’s business philosophy is the mindset his father embodied — “the mark of a man is not what he takes from the world, but what he gives to the world.”

That plays out in simple, day-to-day ways for Nik, such as working to find products at a cheaper rate and keeping a low markup. After all, he said many families are struggling with layoffs and unemployment and need their dollars to go farther to take care of their families.

And he’s hoping to keep investing in Burrton. He’s working to develop a possible business partner to open a couple more businesses in Burrton, with a plan to have one of them be a teen center — a place for teens to listen to music, play video games