Sidney, Montana has a long, storied history that goes back until the 1870s, when settlers started arriving in the area, looking to put down roots and try their hand at farming and ranching. The town, named by a judge after a young visitor, was built on family values. Business tycoons moved to town, looking to capitalize on the arrival of pioneers. One of those entrepreneurs was Augustus Vaux, who would become the Mayor of Sidney while building a lumber yard, livery barn, and post office, which still stands in Sidney today. In 1906, he opened the Yellowstone Mercantile, a landmark store on the streets of the young town. The building before you was originally built in 1913 and underwent major renovations in 1930. Eventually, the Mercantile closed, and it seemed like the end of the road for the historic business. That all changed in 2022 when Serina Kringen, a local woman who also sees the importance of family values, was looking for a way to give back to her community.

Revitalizing the Yellowstone Mercantile was not for the faint of heart, but that didn’t deter Serina. As soon as she received the keys, she got to work, beginning the long process of renovating the 25,000 square foot building to its original glory. Her first order of business was a coffee shop. The Yellowstone Perc is the heartbeat of this special, old building, serving up coffee, sandwiches, soups, and salads, a cozy space nestled in a corner of the Mercantile.

Breathing new life into the Yellowstone Mercantile will bring a bit of the past into the future of Sidney and, because it’s a family affair, it’s safe to say the forefathers of Sidney, who prized family above all else, would be proud.