Mountain Market opened its doors to the public over Labor Day weekend. Owner Janice Mann is excited to return home to Tucker County after 30 years outside of the state.
The store, located next door to Ranger Jane’s on Spruce Street in Thomas, offers a variety of products, some of which focus on the intangible.
“This is so much more than a store,” Mann said. “I want this to be a place where people can come relax and be at peace.”
Mann’s focused her career on counseling as well business management. She obtained Associates and Bachelors of Science degrees in counseling. From there, she worked at Appalachian Mental Health Center and for the state of West Virginia as a court appointed special advocate for people with disabilities. “So that those folks could have their needs met legally and morally,” Mann said.
She works in private practice now, where she provides consultation for a number of life’s hardships. “I have every criteria in the field of mental health covered,” Mann said.
Mann is a published author of 12 self help books, many of which are published in multiple languages. “I work hard to put a body of work together that’s valuable to others,” she said.
“If you are having problems in life, my door is always open. Do not let money stop you from coming in. I am not concerned with that.”
Much like her counseling experience, Mountain Market is not her first business venture. “Let me say I started off as an entrepreneur at age four with a lemonade stand on Davis St. in Elkins, and it’s grown from there,” Mann said.
After moving from West Virginia, she owned a retail store, Serenity by the Sea in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. She also owned two healing centers in Delaware and Florida.
As a retail store, Mountain Market stocks stones, jewelry, CBD oil made by Appalachian Cannabis Company, and books.
The store also offers snack food and barbecue from Smoke on the Water located in Elkins. “How often do you drive down the road and you’re hungry, but you don’t want to spend $20? I want to be a place where people can stop and grab healthy grab and go foods,” Mann said.
In addition to the prepared foods, Mountain Market stocks drinks, Godiva chocolate, fruit preserves, and hot sauces.
After 30 years living away from Tucker County Mann is excited to return. “I love to watch the fog roll in and smell the sweet mountain air.” Mann’s grandfather was the Presbyterian Minister in Thomas and owned a house on Spruce St.
“He married and baptized a number of people in this county. As a matter of fact, I had someone in here the other day who said, ‘He married my parents and baptized me,'” Mann said.
“It is nice to be back home,” Mann said. Mann recollected times when her grandfather would let her walk down to the old DePollo store to buy candy. “Looking at the display of candy, it was probably only like five feet long, but it seemed endless to a kid,” Mann said.