136 Main - Mahler's Village Variety

136 Main - Mahler's Village Variety

Mahler's Village Variety has been a part of the Ellendale business district since October 1985, when Paul and Kathy Mahler purchased the store from Art and Ardys Fryslie, who had operated the business since 1964. Previously it had been the Ben Franklin Store. The Mahlers came from Iowa where he had managed a J.C. Penney store. They are natives of Fairmount, ND.

A devastating fire destroyed the business in November of 1990, but the determined owners would not be deterred. Within nine months the store had been rebuilt and was once again open for business.

Village Variety offers a wide selection of goods from gifts and greeting cards to toys and decorations, notions and craft materials, kitchen items and basic clothing supplies, jewelry, candies, dishes, and a thousand other needs and wants. The Mahlers continue to carry on the great American tradition of the ”five and dime store.”