‘The Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond Discloses if She Will Open Restaurants in Other States
The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond has been super busy lately. She recently announced she’s working on two books, a revised Pioneer Woman website, and a new store. Here’s what the Food Network star said about whether she would consider opening restaurants in other states.
The Pioneer Woman Mercantile is a destination spot for many fans
Among Drummond’s many businesses is The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. It’s so popular that there are usually lines wrapped around the restaurant. Some fans have even listed the Mercantile on their bucket list. The establishment, which is located in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, is not only a restaurant, but also a bakery and store. Tucked above The Mercantile is a coffee shop.
If you’re planning a trip to The Merc, your best bet is to avoid going there during lunchtime. According to the YouTube channel Travel Tips by Laurie, it’s best to wait until dinner if you want to be seated right away.
The history of The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
On The Pioneer Woman blog, Drummond told her readers about the beginnings of The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. She says she and Ladd began their journey by renovating the Osage Mercantile building, which was about 100 years old:
A few years ago, my husband and I started renovating an old building on Main Street in our small town. In 2014, we finished 1/4 of the building, which we use as our family/ranch office. The rest of the building is the site of The Pioneer Woman Mercantile: a bustling bakery, a delicious deli, and a gorgeous general store. Come see us!
Renovating The Mercantile was a labor of love for Ree and Ladd Drummond
Drummond shared on her blog how much work went into getting The Merc ready for business. She said it was chaotic, but she was happy to see how much progress was being made:
I’m not going to show you wide shots of the deli, general store, and bakery spaces right now because they would make you want to crawl under your covers and never come out. We are currently in the Humpty Dumpty stage, where it looks like nothing will ever be put back together again. Floor has been pulled up, trenches have been jack-hammered, piles of dirt are sitting outside…it is most definitely a construction zone!
On the other hand, rooms are being framed out, electricity is being installed, ducts are going in, and it’s getting easier and easier to envision the things that are going to be going on in the various spaces in just a few short months.
Will Ree Drummond open restaurants in other states?
In the spring issue of The Pioneer Woman magazine, a reader asked Drummond if she has ever considered opening a restaurant in a state besides Oklahoma. Drummond says she talked about it with Ladd and they’re open to the possibilities (maybe Dallas or Nashville). However, it doesn’t look like they will be branching out any time soon. “Ladd and I have talked about it, but we always come to the conclusion that part of the reason The Merc works so well is that it’s in our hometown,” wrote Drummond. “We want to remain focused on Pawhuska for now, but we’ll always be open to possibilities later on!”
Read more: ‘The Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond Announced a Sequel to ‘Black Heels to Tractor Wheels’
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