Bonner Mercantile
99 East Main Street
Midway Mercantile: A Storied Landmark at 99 East Main Street
Built in 1879 by renowned local builder John Watkins, the original Bonner store began as a modest one-room, gable-roofed structure. Over the years, it has evolved through multiple renovations and expansions—today, only a few walls of the original building remain. The land was originally owned by George Bonner Sr. (1823–1905), who passed it down to his sons George Jr. (1850–1913) and William (1854–1925). Together, the brothers established the store and operated a family farm. Eventually, the two split their efforts—George, who had daughters, managed the store, while William, with his many sons, continued the farming operation.
George’s daughters—Phebie, Margaret, and later Jane—played integral roles in the store, working as clerks and handling bookkeeping. A wooden outbuilding once stood on the store’s east side, where grain and other bulk goods were sold. After George’s passing, Margaret and her husband, Albert Thomas Steward, took over operations. Margaret oversaw purchasing, while Albert handled transport—collecting goods from the railhead and delivering orders, including shipments to the Snake Creek mining district.
By the 1930s, the store had added a gasoline pump and had become part of the “Red and White” grocery chain. In 1950, it was sold to cousin Glenna Afton Bonner (1905–1964) and her husband, Leland William Ivers (1905–1978), who made substantial updates. Around 1955, a west-side addition was constructed, and dormers were added to the second story, converting it into a residence.
In 1972, the business was sold to Richard Nielson and renamed Nielson’s Midway Merc, aligning with the IGA food chain. In 1986, the building’s historic false front was reshaped into the now-familiar stepped façade, along with other exterior improvements. Through the 1990s, the building changed owners several times and was used as an antique shop.
A new chapter began in 2017, when the historic building was beautifully restored and reopened as the Midway Mercantile Restaurant, continuing its legacy as a vibrant hub of Main Street.
