The Mossy Merchant celebrates life’s treasures.
written by CARYN GRESHAM
photo courtesy of KATIE DRIVER
KATIE DRIVER MOVED FROM DURANGO, Colorado, to Elkins at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was an adventure for this Oklahoma-born woman to head to the Mountain State with her husband, who had accepted a U.S. Forest Service position at Seneca Rocks, and her young son. She told her husband she’d give West Virginia three years before they should head back to Colorado, the place she thought would be her forever home.
Then Driver got to know Elkins, her neighbors, and Appalachia. “I fell in love,” she says. “Elkins is changing for the best, and I want to be part of that adventure. I want to invest in the community and showcase the authenticity of Appalachia.”
In 2020, Driver bought the Moyle Building on Davis Avenue. The three-story brick commercial building built in 1906 is listed in the Downtown Elkins Historic District. In 2021, she opened The Mossy Merchant there.
The Mossy Merchant features vintage clothing, local art, home goods, treasures, and antiques. Driver finds her curated collection on antiquing excursions with her mother and sister and on estate hunts through Appalachia.
“I want to showcase the Appalachian aesthetic,” says Driver. “I love when people come in and get nostalgic as they shop. A lot of storytelling goes on in here.” Her clientele ranges from young shoppers looking for vintage clothing to older customers adding to their collections.
“I grew up napping under a table at my grandmother’s antique booths at fairs and shows,” says Driver. “My mother loves antiques, and my sister owns an antique shop in Oklahoma.” Driver has a degree in fine arts and spent a few years as an interior designer in Chicago.
Her young son is following in those footsteps. He has his own desk beside hers where he draws, colors, and reads. On the way to work, he picks up leaves, flowers, and other natural items, which he displays in the shop for customers to take. “He tells me that his things are free, while people have to pay for my things,” she laughs.
“When I opened The Mossy Merchant, I committed myself to my new forever home,” Driver says. “My husband and I have plans to eventually open an adventure store with outdoor merchandise and guide services.”
Until then, The Mossy Merchant owner is building her ever-changing inventory and making good on her promise to help the community. She is partnering with other local businesses in her building who share a vision to make Elkins more creative, more curious, and more care-filled. “We’ve named the area The Labyrinth District with its shops and creative and studio space,” she says. “We hosted a Labyrinth Fest in June, emphasizing art, antiques, and adventure.” The Mossy Merchant hosted a fashion show for the festival.
The two other shops are The Mycelium, a local art installation gallery and arts supply shop and studio, and The Minotaur, a small screening room and book shop that hosts film screenings, book clubs, and writers’ nights. There are also plans to convert a parking lot behind the building into a community green space.
“I am enjoying everything I do, from running the shop to working with the arts community,” says Driver. “In 2019, I felt like I was leaving home when we left Colorado. Today, I love West Virginia and am glad it’s my home.”
212 Davis Avenue, Elkins, @themossymerchant on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S FALL 2023 ISSUE
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