Slim's Frenchtown Mercantile Is A Champion Of Small Businesses In Paducah, Kentucky
By Sarah McCosham|Published April 12, 2024
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
The heart and soul of the Bluegrass State is found in its small towns, and while Paducah’s 26,000 residents put it squarely in “mid-sized” territory, this Kentucky locale has a distinct, small-town soul. Paducah is a proud river city that’s big in natural beauty and the arts, with a robust creative community, impressive culinary scene, and thriving business district. And nestled in the heart of it all is Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile. This “reimagined Southern gem” is simultaneously old and new, selling Kentucky-proud wares from its digs inside a former BBQ diner in Paducah.
Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.
There's something so delightful about an old-fashioned mercantile. The handmade wares and antiques. The indescribable smell of worn wood and polished furniture. The unique gifts and items handpicked by a thoughtful curator.
In Paducah, Kentucky, Slim's Frenchtown Mercantile is one such place. It's a modern mercantile located in a classic BBQ diner, complete with chrome bar stools and a long counter.
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And just like the olden days, you'll often find the owners of Slim's Frenchtown Mercantile behind the counter, happy to lend a hand or suggestion for shoppers; the kind of personalized customer service that's becoming more and more rare these days.
As owners Ginny and Chris Hutson tell it,
"we acquired and restored a 1930 filling station, and then opened in 2017 as Frenchtown Station. Just down the street, and on our block, sat a once iconic BBQ diner - Slim's BBQ. The old diner is constructed in the vernacular of a Southern BBQ diner and still has the original counter and stools, as well as painted front windows proclaiming 'The Original Slim's.'"
The small business owners were inspired to give Slim's "another day and reimagine it to serve as home to an upscale mercantile." And so, Paducah is now home to a duo of delightful, Hutson-owned shops: Frenchtown Station and Slim's Frenchtown Mercantile... "our Frenchtown Block!" they exclaim.
The(s) store fit right in Paducah, Kentucky, with the owners defining success "by the response of our visitors to the products and items offered." And in terms of what you'll find at this charming little shop? Well, a curated celebration of small businesses all across the Bluegrass!
"Consistently we look for products and items from small to mid-level companies that offer high quality items that might resonate with shoppers looking for special gift ideas," the owners say.
By prioritizing a small, personalized experience over a big, faceless store, Slim's Frenchtown Mercantile has earned the respect and adoration of visitors from across the state and region.
"To date we attribute the success of Slim's to our efforts to emphasize experiential shopping," the Hutsons say, "and our intentionality in identifying companies, many of whom look to give back in a charitable way, from which to order products and items."
A cornerstone of their community and proud members of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hutsons regularly host events at their stores that welcome other small businesses in the community to participate. "In the spring and fall we present the Frenchtown Fete -- "fete" is French for festival -- " for these events, the owners invite other small businesses and vendors to come and set up shop, hopefully sending some business their way!
It's this team spirit that makes Slim's a wholly unique Bluegrass business worthy of your patronage. By championing small businesses in their home town and home state, the Hutsons have created something truly magical in Paducah, Kentucky.
Many thanks to Slim’s Manager/Curator Will Hutson and Owners Ginny and Chris Hutson for sharing the story of their delightful small businesses in Paducah, Kentucky. Learn more about this small business in Kentucky at the Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile website and Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile Facebook page — and if you’re into antiques, definitely checkout Frenchtown Station while you’re in the neighborhood!
Of course, Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile is just one of the many incredible local restaurants in Kentucky; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Kentucky article. And be sure to follow Only In Kentucky on Facebook and Instagram to learn about this region of the Bluegrass State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.
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