Building owners tap into underutilized second-story for business expansion

Decorated for the holidays, Mississippi Marketplace offers a variety of kitchen gadgets for the most selective holiday cook. All kitchen gadgets are tried and true. Photo contributed by Lauren Jackson.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

It has been nearly a year since Linda Studer and her daughter, Lauren Jackson, made the decision to blend their business talents and resources in order to invest in downtown Hannibal. In January 2025 they purchased the building at 217 North Main, where the family-owned Mississippi Marketplace has been in operation for nearly a baker’s dozen years.

While ripping the pages from the 2025 calendar one month at a time, they have not looked back.

By building up equity in the two-storefront, two-story structure that has served the downtown since the beginning of the 20th Century, they have in turn invested not only in their own future, but the downtown’s future as well.

“Since 2013 (when we first opened for business) people have been so kind to us, and our business continues to grow every year,” Linda said. Support comes from Northeast Missouri, West Central Illinois and travelers alike.

“I live in Shelbina,” Linda said, driving the 40-miles each way along U.S. 36 daily. Those miles seem minimal to her, and apparently to others as well. “People from my hometown come in (to the store) almost every day,” she said.

The purchase of the building is in direct response to a expanding downtown business climate.

“About four years ago, our business grew to a point I could no longer do it myself. I talked to my youngest daughter about coming to work with me. Lauren left her job as a grain merchandiser, and put her talents to good use in the retail business.”

Then, last January, after purchasing the building, they teamed up to renovate the upstairs of the double building, dividing the previous vacant space into apartments and overnight rental space.

“It has worked out very nice,” Linda said. “The apartments are all rented, and most every weekend the Air B&Bs are rented, too.”

During the years since she first opened her business on Main Street, she has witnessed much change.

“We happened to get here when they were redoing all the sidewalks, and adding the trees and the lights. Then came the riverfront” renewal. “The new stuff has made downtown beautiful.”

In addition, existing “businesses offer entertainment; there is music for supper or on Sunday afternoon, and there is still a whole lot of room for growth. Hannibal has so much potential.

“Downtown is so cool. It is a cool place to hang out; enjoy music, food, entertainment and shopping. The growth and the change down here has been quite amazing.”

But it is not just the businesses that are contributing to downtown’s evolution. “What the city has done is huge,” she said. “A lot of what they have done has encouraged growth down here.”

In addition, the merchant associations, the Hannibal Arts Council and the Jaycees, “work really hard to host events, such as the chocolate tasting, July 4th, Folklife Festival. That brings people downtown.  You have to give people a reason to come downtown.

“People have great experiences and want to spend more time there. The community and agencies and organizations are hosting good family events; that’s the goal. That creates a healthy lifestyle down here.”

Retail store

It was Linda’s dream to open a business, and to couple that dream with her love for travel.

Operating the Mississippi Marketplace, in the heart of Hannibal’s tourism district, fulfills both passions, she said.

“When people are on vacation they are happy,” she said.

In 2013, she decided the time was right. “I’d be really sad if I didn’t do something I love. This is my dream job.”

The question then became: What to sell?

When she was first contemplating opening a business on Main Street 13 years ago, she walked up and down the street with her husband, (the late) Richard Studer.

“I didn’t want to do something that anyone was already doing,” she said. When they got to the end of Main Street, she said, “They don’t have food. I can do food. I love food.”

And that’s how her business began. She focused her attention on Missouri-made products, selling items such as bulk food, and her goal was to bring in home decor. “If I sold home decor then I could sell it and buy new. Flip and buy new,” she said.

Then, a few years after opening the store, she saw another opportunity.

“There used to be a kitchen store on the next block. When they went out of business, it was a natural fit; we added the kitchen side and it has been a ton of tun. We also serve a need down here, by carrying speciality kitchen items. Hannibal is still small town - in my opinion -  and people can’t get those things locally. I love kitchen gadgets so we bring them in here.”

She doesn’t sell anything she wouldn’t use herself. “We’ve tasted 90 percent of the products (we sell) and I’ve used almost every kitchen gadget. If it doesn’t work, we don’t want to sell it to people.

“We also own a farm; we are huge agriculture people. We wanted to showcase things made in Missouri. That is one of the things we are most excited about that has happened in our store.

“Our tourists love things that are from Missouri; people like to shop the jam or the jelly or dip that is made here in Missouri, all by small businesses. There is a story that goes along with it.

“We are passionate about small business. If we can be a retail shop for another small business, we try to do that if we can. We have businesses that make soups and dips and have 10 kids in their family. We want to be able to showcase other people. We are a retail store; we have the ability to do that and that makes us pretty happy.

“We’ve started reaching out to Illinois as well; they’re right across the river. They don’t get to go in the Missouri section, but we are excited about them -  they are our neighbors. “One is Sutter Produce Co., which is only 30 minutes away,” which sells jams and jellies.

The small businesses they showcase, “They produce great products and we get to talk about their products. We‘re always looking for new Missouri products.”

It is that camaraderie that has helped Mississippi Marketplace reach its current level of success.

“We’re in year 13; it’s a ‘pinch me’ thing. When you open a new business you pray that you get to make it another year. Oh  my gosh, year five. … a huge celebration year 10. We’re making it!”

Mississippi Marketplace, 215 N.Main, features a line of gourmet foods from Wind & Willow, which is based out of Mt. Vernon, Mo., and Sunflower Oil, produced by Show Me HH Farms, in Ralls County, Mo. Photo contributed by Lauren Jackson.