Patriot Company Store offers unique items, socialization
For something a little different, visit the Patriot Company Store near the crossroads of Routes 31 and 982, a few miles east of Mt. Pleasant.
Owned by Cheryl and Bob Shumar of Mt. Pleasant, the interesting little store offers a unique blend of items to their customers.
"We're always looking for things that are a little different, things you won't find other places," Cheryl Shumar said. "And we like to offer as many USA products that we can."
The Shumar are no strangers to business.
"I've always been self-employed," Cheryl Shumar said. "We both have experience and we just wanted to open a little retail business."
The Patriot Company Store offers items that include Rada cutlery, Mia Bella candles and melts, knives and binoculars, some antique local glassware and Ultimate cloths.
The store also offers a selection of flags.
"Any of the flags that you see outside we have for sale," Bob Shumar said. "We will be offering a complete line of military and POW flags."
The Shumars handle the Miche purse line, too. Cheryl Shumar noted the location is a perfect place for customers to host a Miche party.
The store features numerous tables and comfortable chairs scattered around, offering an area for socializing.
"This would be for people who want the hostess credits and free products and discounts but may not want to host a party in their home," Cheryl Shumar said.
The Shumars stressed that the seating available in their store is for anyone who may want to come in and stay for a bit.
With hot coffee and cappuccino, the store even has a book nook with seating and hundreds of used books for sale.
"Some of the women in the area asked about a little book nook area," Bob Shumar said. "Now they come in and relax."
The Shumars also will be taking advantage of the high traffic location of their store and the large parking area that is adjacent.
"We're going to have a food vendor come in who will set up outside," Cheryl Shumar said, adding that the vendor will be there a few times each week with freshly prepared items for sale. "And the fruit market will be coming back, too."
In addition, the Shumars are offering their outside space to anyone who wants to sell items and two outside posting boards for people to list items for sale.
"If anyone is interested in setting up outside and renting a space, they just have to call us and we can make arrangements," Cheryl Shumar said.
The Shumars said they are interested in possibly purchasing items of interest for sale, too, such as old glassware or antiques or they may consider offering certain items on a consignment basis.
"We may consider specialty consignment items on a limited basis," Cheryl Shumar said.
Offering warm hospitality to all, the Patriot Company Store is a bit of a throwback to olden days when a friendly neighborhood store could be found in every town.
"We offer good products that aren't expensive and we just enjoy people coming in here and talking with us," Cheryl Shumar said. "This is somewhere for people to go to stop and relax if they like."
"People are already saying that it's just so homey here," Bob Shumar said.
The Patriot Company Store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For information, call 724-542-4322.
