Business Spotlight: Gandy Dancer Mercantile
The formerly named Burchcreek Mercantile has taken up new ownership! Now Gandy Dancer Mercantile, named in homage to the Ogden railroads, is owned by husband-and-wife team Bonni Gravelle and Glenn Croydon. If you’re looking for a new hangout, this is THE place to be. During the day, it’s got a neighborhood coffee shop vibe, and if the bar scene isn’t for you, the live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday provides the perfect opportunity for weekend fun.
New owners Gravelle and Croydon are retired teachers of 50 years who moved from Hawaii to Ogden in 2019. The couple found a good fit in Ogden and instantly loved the community. They wanted to invest in property, and found Burchcreek Mercantile. Gravelle says of their decision, “He’s sure I’m right, and I’m sure I’m right, and that’s how it goes!”
The plan took a turn, however, when the couple learned that everything came with the building, including a full-service kitchen. Turned from investors to owners, they began as a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, working from 7 a.m.-11 p.m., but the pace was difficult and wasn’t cost effective. “One night we served pulled-pork for dinner and sold 33 dinners,” says Gravelle. That night at 10 p.m., the couple went grocery shopping for more pork, cooked it, and shredded it for the next day; however, that next day, they only sold five dinners.
“The next day, Glen told me, ‘God said to me: ‘Simplicity.’ We are closing the kitchen,'” says Gravelle. So after a journey of trial and error, the couple finally found their sweet spot! They nixed the food and started selling treats and ice cream from 2-9 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday, with live music every night. “Now, we can listen to the music and talk to our customers,” Gravelle adds. “That’s the reason we started this whole thing!”
Gandy Dancer Mercantile offers a huge selection of ice cream, including Farr’s, Kemp’s, Cascade Glacier, and Aggie Ice Cream that they transport from Logan every week. They also serve coffee, a variety of teas, and treats, including Glen’s homemade fudge. They encourage customers to BYOF (bring your own food), especially takeout from Tony’s Pizza right around the corner. Grubhub, Doordash, and Uber Eats are always welcome at the Gandy Dancer.
The atmosphere at the mercantile is that of an enormous family room. The space is filled with couches, comfy chairs, coffee tables, and game tables with games to play. There are even toys for the kids to play with, and the bands are always family-friendly, while dancing is strongly encouraged. On Thursday, the bands play for tips. Local musician Ashley, from the band Ashberry Jam, says The Gandy is her favorite venue because of Bonni and Glen.
Also strongly encouraged is browsing the collection of used books. The whole space is lined with bookshelves of books of every kind, available for purchase at the steep price of $1-$3. “Because we’re both retired educators, we want to get books into people’s hands,” says Croydon.
Bonni’s Charity Shoppe also sells found treasures around the space. A 25% portion of proceeds will go to a local senior at Bonneville high, Max, who was in a skiing accident and is now paralyzed.
The couple comes from Oahu, nicknamed The Gathering Place — that was the dream for the space, and it’s being fully realized. Book clubs, families, friends, senior citizen centers, dates, and regulars who just want to hang out fill the Gandy Dancer every afternoon through nightfall. There are too many favorite things about the Gandy Dancer; it’s as if you enter a new world when you walk through the doors — a big family party where everyone, especially Bonni and Glen, is happy to see you.
For a schedule of live music, visit Gandy Dancer Mercantile on Facebook (gandydancerutah) or, better yet, pop on in and stay a while!
Photos provided by Gandy Dancer and Ogden Downtown Alliance social media.
