Meet Founder Kate Traver, of The Mercantile at Mill + Grain in Buda

YOU HAVE A GIFT FOR CURATING UNIQUE HOME AND APPAREL. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

Thank you! It is my absolute favorite part of owning The Mercantile. I work hard to curate lines and vendors not found everywhere. My goal is to make your selections unique to their final destination. Over the past 20+ years in the retail industry, I have seen and gotten to know many vendors. I was also a buyer previously, so when time came to open my own boutique I had a pretty good idea of what the vibe and who the vendors were going to be. And being in Historic Downtown Buda, in the Buda Mill & Grain Co. Shopping District is the perfect home for us.

WHAT TYPE OF HOME AND KITCHEN GOODS CAN WE FIND THERE?

I grew up in the kitchen and it is always my favorite place to be. It was how I spent most of my childhood with my dad and grandma. So conceptually, home and kitchen goods were always the goal. I will always have a good cookbook in stock (actually tons), unique items for entertaining your guests and larger pieces to decorate your home.

YOUR APPAREL IS UNIQUE AND FUN — WHAT BRANDS YOU CARRY?

I try to carefully tow the line between fashionable/ fun and classic/seasonless pieces for your closet. So brandwise, that could range from Pistola & Show Me Your Mumu to Wooden Ships sweaters & ABLE.

Christina Nguyen christinavictoriaa@gmail.com

Amanda Gibbs @mytruththroughphotos

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