Ranch Candy Mercantile ribbon-cutting tomorrow

There is a new storefront opening on Greybull Avenue. 

Ranch Candy Mercantile, operated by Basin native Camie Smith, will have its ribbon cutting Friday, July 18 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 547 Greybull Avenue, followed by a “Meet the Vendors” event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

“It is a great community. Greybull is booming, especially main street, because it offers the opportunity for smaller businesses to maybe not have so much of the overhead costs to be able to open up and have a space of their own,” Smith said. 

Smith previously ran The WYOming Scene boutique in downtown Greybull for five years. Her new business model will host not only her boutique, renamed Ranch Candy Boutique, but a variety of small businesses from Wyoming and Montana. 

The mercantile will include a variety of handmade, homegrown and natural options. Vendors include T&G 3D Printing, The Happy Heifer, Shell Valley Egg-cellence, Welophora, Fringed in Faith, Red Pony Salsa, Badlands Cowboy Tack Co., The Fat Heifer, Grateful Gems 307, Millie’s Munchies, Wyo Backcountry Decor, Wild Card Western, and Breezy Bones.

“Kind of what I wanted to do was offer a space for small businesses to get established and expand their presence without having all of the traditional standalone price,” Smith explained. 

Other vendors are in the works, and Smith estimated she would have four or five more spaces available. She is looking for unique local artists, craftspeople and food folks. 

Smith explained that part of generating foot traffic will include community events, such as book signings and readings and pop-up craft shops. She also intends to offer short-term “showcase vendors” for those looking to dip their toes in the water while also providing fresh merchandise for customers. 

Friday’s event ribbon-cutting will include food, drinks, drawings, giveaways swag bags for the first 15 shoppers and live music by Kaleb McDaniel. Saturday will follow suit.