The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


Business Spotlight

Lomax- If you just need those special few items or a drink or quick meal, you can finally get them in town... a blessing for the Lomax area. MR MERCANTILE newly opened February 25th along HWY 96 in Lomax at 818 E 2nd St.,

(The RM are for the owners first names, Rob and Melisa Hite, the Mercantile means general store).

Friday, co-owner Rob Hite was busy keeping everything clean, and convenient and handy for his customers, which is saving locals a trip to the city. Their supplier has helped him pick the top most requested items in a general store plus he adds items at customers request.

His store size enables him to have a few of many items such as milk, bread, buns, salt cheese, pain relievers, mouthwash, bacon, eggs, frozen pizza, coffee, drinks, ice cream, chips, dip, butter, sour cream, even live bait for fishing.

“I’m a simple man with a simple life with a business major from WIU-Macomb. I’m wanting to make a living, not get rich," he said.

"I like to keep things affordable and competitive,” he said of his low prices. “I’m also a neat freak, I like to keep things clean.”

Rob says his new mercantile store is easy to find this time of year because it’s at the highway corner in Lomax where people turn to go to Peters Greenhouse–a very busy place this time of year. Convenience and a little bit of everything is what we’re all about, even selling local folks’ craft items, Rob explains.

"It sure saves me a lot of miles," his customer Jeff Roberts said.

Rob and his wife Melisa (Castillo) live in Lomax in the next block, (also convenient). Melisa, a lifelong resident of Lomax works at Iowa Workforce in Burlington, IA. Rob, from Ft. Madison, IA, still worked there at Building Materials until this building came up for sale last year, formerly a title company.

"It was time to cash in on the opportunity and put my degree to work, and the pandemic was ending, so we purchased the building last August. He offers a nice seating area to stop in and have a drink or lunch item, whatever the day offers–deli sandwiches to Butch’s Pizza etc. Call or come in and he’ll bake you a whole pizza.

Fridays-Saturdays he serves bisquits and gravy ($2.09), Tuesday-Thursday is homemade breakfast burritos, Wednesday and Sunday is pizza by the slice.

Coffee and hot dogs and many varieties of drinks are always available.

RM Mercantile hours, Monday-Friday 6am- 6pm starting Monday, March 28th phone is (217) 449-3481, and on Facebook.

Rob & Melisa Hite, owners

After an unfortunate electrical fire January 27th, the night before Rob and Melisa Hite were to open their new general store, an electrical fire broke out that set them back 4 weeks. Fortunately, Rob was working along with Ortho Tate when it happened. Ortho noticed the breaker box smoking and found an electrical fire was above it. The Lomax Fire Dept. and others were right on it when Fire Chief Gage Blake asked Rob if he wanted to try the fire extinquisher first and thought it would do it. Firemen, already on the roof, were halted and the fire was put out by using the extinguisher, fortunately. Smoke cleanup was needed on the entire store along with replacing the insulation above the ceiling. Service Master worked their magic, Rob and Ortho were able to make repairs. Firemen felt the wires had gotten hot and the furnace gave them a boost of oxygen, sparking a fire.