Trends Mercantile open in Moosomin
New coffee shop in town
May 19, 2025, 8:04 am
by Ashley Bochek
Main Street Moosomin has welcomed a new coffee and vendor shop, Trends Mercantile.
Young entrepreneurs, Cara and Gwen Grant of Okotoks, Alberta, are excited for their business’s new beginning in Moosomin.
Cara explains their family’s connection to the town of Moosomin.
“We are family-oriented. Our parents own a business back home and so we’ve always wanted to open something of our own. Moosomin was our area—we grew up coming out every summer visiting our grandparents and cousins.”
Gwen adds, “It was always kind of a joke with our family that eventually we would come, move here, and mom and Auntie Jen would open a coffee shop together and now it is finally happening and we are part of it.”
Entrepreneurial family
Cara says her parents have been role models to her and her sister in starting their own business.
“Definitely our parents are a huge help with owning a business—we are trying to ask lots of questions and pull their knowledge. There is always more to learn. We are hoping people are going to like it.”
Gwen is finishing high school this June then plans to move to Moosomin. “I am still graduating high school back home so once I am out of high school I will be permanently moving here. It is kind of a process of our whole family moving here, as we are still wrapping up the business back in Alberta.”
Cara adds, “Our parents have an industrial spray business in Okotoks. They do pastures, residential, and commercial lots, so this is very different.”
Pop Parlour
Cara says they hope to be known for their pop parlour as it reminds them of home.
“We are hoping to do a dirty soda shop—I hope that is what people like about this place, but we do have coffee as well.
“There is a dirty soda shop back home and we love it. It is almost like a daily treat. So we are hoping to create the same feeling here. The cafe and pop parlour might be a draw-in for people, but the vendor collective area we hope brings people back more and more. We want to highlight local artists and show them that their work is appreciated and people love their art just as much as they love making it. We want this place to be a home for their art.
“So far we have about 25 vendors from this area. We are trying to keep it local, but there are vendors from all across the Prairies. Our vendors are definitely all from Canada and we hope to continue to expand it.”
Gwen says they can’t wait to meet new people in the area. “We just opened last Friday and are so excited to meet new locals and customers. We are hoping people will see friendly faces when they come in. We want a place where everyone in town feels they are welcome, and they are included.”
Cara says their goal is to create a welcoming community in town. “We are trying to build a community where anybody can walk in and find something that the artists made or have a pop or drink.”
Their dad helped the girls decide on the name. “We were spit-balling for many months over the name, Trends Mercantile,” said Cara. “We were sitting with our dad and after months of being unsure, dad thought ‘What is a name that means nothing, but is kind of everything?’ We have a little bit of everything and we are hoping to grow into different aspects and hoping we can make this something concrete.”
Enjoy Moosomin
Gwen says they have visited Moosomin every summer while growing up.
“We came to Moosomin every summer for a month. We would live with our grandparents while our parents were back home working. Uncle Terry and Auntie Jen and our cousins are here too. I think it is a meeting place for our family and so this is our chance to finally come and move here and be around our family.”
Cara says they have always enjoyed visiting Moosomin.
“When we were kids this place felt magical. When you come from Okotoks with 30,000 people and then come here and everyone knows one another and you bike to the pool—this place growing up it was always like this is where I am meant to be. We hope to live and stay in Moosomin long term as well. We are hoping to make this place our home.”
The girls decided to open Trends Mercantile on Main Street to attract locals and people passing through.
“It is right in the middle of everything. It is Main Street so we thought it would be a great spot—in the middle of all the action in town. It is just a great place to set up shop to catch everyone,” Gwen said.
Cara adds, “When we would come to town too, Mom and Auntie Jen would take us shopping all the time. So we would start at Pharmasave, walk the street, and stop in at McPhail, and now we stop in at Haven. We are hoping with the whole shopping aspect, we are right there and people are going to stop in—like we do when we shop Main Street.”
New business owners
Cara says they are excited to begin their entrepreneurial journey with Trends Mercantile.
“This is our first time running and owning a business together. We are really excited and a little nervous to see what is going to come. Some days you can’t sleep and the butterflies are crazy, but then its also thinking wow this is so exciting. We are so excited for something completely new to the town and we are hoping people will love it as much as we love it.
They are planning to be open late to accommodate everyone.
“Teens can also come here—I’ve heard small town kids have nothing to do later at night other than cruise so we are hoping to be open late and bring in teens for some sodas,” Cara said. “We want there to be something for everyone. We also have a variety of options and affordable prices to reach all people in town. There is something for everyone.”
Prairie vendors
Cara explains the variety of vendors available at Trends Mercantile.
“There is photography, my Uncle Terry does pottery—Clay Man Studios—so we are hoping he is in here. We have a lady that makes polymer clay earrings and a lady who upcycles clothes among our vendors. We tried to make it a diverse collection for opening and we want it to continue to grow and include more artists.”
Cara says they plan to be open later in the evening.
“We are planning to have the pop parlour open 10 am to 9 pm. We are obviously still planning that. We have a gate to close off the vendor side at 6 pm. Lots of people get off work at 5, so we decided to keep it open later so more can stop in through the week. We are hoping that accommodates everyone.”
So excited
Gwen says she is excited to be part of this new business and to be in Moosomin.
“I am most excited that it is something completely new. I have never worked in this type of business—I have worked in other food service places before, but nothing like this so I am really excited. It is a good opportunity for us and I am excited to move here with my family.”
Cara adds she is just as nervous as excited.
“I think I am more nervous than excited. I am nervous to show the public the store and cafe, and get their opinion on it, but I also can’t wait to see and get to know some of the customers personally and see what people want more from the store so I can tailor the experience more to the public.”
Lots of planning
Cara says they have been working on Trends Mercantile since last December.
“We bought the building in December and started renovations in January. It has been pretty crazy from the beginning. It has definitely been overwhelming, but everything is so exciting. I have been here about a week every month and then I moved here permanently at the beginning of April. Gwen has been out here twice since we bought the building, mom has been out three or so times, and my dad once, and our Auntie Jen and Uncle Terry have all helped as well. So it has been a whole family project.”
Trends Mercantile hosted Jump for Charity Teddy Bears Anonymous on opening day.
“We had the Jump for Charity, Teddy Bears Anonymous here on Friday to open,” Cara said. “Linda Machniak was thinking about putting her photography in here and so she came and we had a 50/50 draw fundraising for that—we will be posting on our social media frequently to update the public as well. We are hoping this is a place for the community, so it made sense to have community fundraisers in here already. We did some cotton candy sampling and 10% off drinks at the pop parlour as well for opening day. We just can’t wait to see the community, meet some new people, and enjoy our time here.”
Follow Trends Mercantile on social media to keep up with exciting drinks and vendor pieces available.
Instagram: trends.merc.moosomin
Facebook: Trends Mercantile
Online website: www.trendsmercantile.com
