Chamber Spotlight: River Raisin Mercantile

The Manchester Mirror is partnering with the Manchester Chamber of Commerce to highlight a different Chamber of Commerce member each week! This week we are spotlighting River Raisin Mercantile. Visit https://48158.com/ for information on joining the Chamber.

River Raisin Mercantile, owned by Sue LaRocque, resides in a historic 1867 three-story Italianate building. In its early days, the street level space was occupied by a dry goods store, soda shop, pizza parlor, and other small businesses. Until 1990, when the two upper levels were turned into 10 apartments, that space was used by organizations and businesses including the Manchester Enterprise, American Legion, classrooms, and a community auditorium which was used for dances, plays, commencements, and concerts, which contributed to making Manchester the social center of the area.

"When my beloved grandmother Kaiser died at age 96, I was involved in the clean-out of her house," Sue recalls. "She had resided in her old farm house since birth and had kept everything. While going through her things, I started thinking about the stories that belonged to each item. An appreciation and curiosity of things from the past grew in me. Eventually I started going to estate sales looking for hidden treasures. This blossomed into owning booths at two different antique malls. It brought me joy and I knew in my next career I wanted to own my own store. Here I am!"

Sue LaRocque of River Raisin Mercantile

Sue, who has made her home in Manchester for the past 35 years, has been in business in Manchester for 4-1⁄2 years; on May 5, 2022 (her grandmother’s birthday) it will be five years. "I raised my children here and taught at Klager Elementary School," she adds. "I knew I wanted to stay local and to potentially help my community by bringing in a new business. Manchester has been very supportive in helping my small business grow. I look forward to every day when I get to greet old friends and new customers."

Sue believes that supporting our small businesses is crucial to the vitality of our town. Please consider shopping local before you head to the big box stores or shop online. Without you coming through our doors, these local businesses could not survive!

Sue joined the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce "because it’s an organization that is here to support us through networking, promotion, and organizing events which bring more people to our community to frequent our business."

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.