PERFECT HANGING GALLERY
THE
More than just a gallery STORY BY MAIN STREET SQUARE PHOTOS BY ANDY GREENMAN
30 ELEVATE • NOVEMBER 2021
When Chance Whelchel came to Rapid City in May 2011 he had no idea how his life would change in just a few visits. Having recently graduated from Chadron State College, Chance was trying to figure out what his next move was; like most postgraduates, stability and benefits were a major attractor to Rapid City. Chance, who is an art enthusiast, attended an art show at the Dahl and as fate would have it, the featured artist was from Chadron. “To come to Rapid City and see an artist featured that I knew was really impressive,” stated Whelchel. “Rapid City felt right for me,” he added. Chance liked creating art and has a degree in fine arts with an emphasis in psychology but was never an artist himself, he was more intrigued by the artist’s process. That intrigue led him to Perfect Hanging Gallery as an employee working under owner Pam Keller. “I was able to learn a lot from Pam and was able to take everything I learned from working at the frame/gift shop in Chadron to take advantage of the opportunity to purchase the store with Mike,” stated Whelchel. Mike Stanley is Chance’s husband and business partner. Between the two they have been able to grow a 40-year business into one of the most successful frame shops and art galleries in the region. “I never wanted to own a business as I saw firsthand how much work it took to run a successful business. It’s a 24-7 job and I was not interested in that lifestyle,” stated Whelchel. “When Pam made the comment that she wanted to spend more time with her grandkids and was thinking of selling, I was more worried about being unemployed, so we started the process to buy the store,” added Whelchel. In 2018, Chance and Mike moved the Perfect Hanging Gallery out of the Shops at Main Street Square to its current location: 621 Main Street. “We came across the space by accident, I was parked in front of the store, and it had a for sale
