After a series of challenges arose for Audrey Ralston, owner of Chautauqua Soap Co., the owner of the West Main Mercantile in Falconer offered the consolidation as a way to ensure that a fellow business owner made it through hard times.

The Chautauqua Soap Co. now has its full inventory available for purchase at West Main Mercantile. Ralston said the business’s former location on Third Street in Jamestown ceased to be the home of the business in the fall of 2025. Ralston attributed this to the landlord of the building having other plans for the space, which could no longer accommodate the store.

This would mean that, despite operating since June 2020, the business needed to move.

More hardship would strike the business shortly after this though. While Ralston was searching for another suitable location for the shop to open, the trailer containing valuable supplies for the business was stolen. While no product was inside the trailer, Ralston noted that it contained things such as tables and displays. All of these items are essential for the business to be able to travel for shows, something that Ralston does quite frequently.

Chautauqua Soap Co. gift packages bare shown being boxed at the new location.

That was when West Main Mercantile owners Ang and Danielle Marra coming to Ralston’s aid immediately. Ralston stated that the Marra’s were a huge component in helping to find the trailer, with many locals also assisting through social media.

“That weekend I was supposed to be at Wild Wind at the fairgrounds in Warren, and that’s a big show for me. Also a show in Dunkirk, so I missed out on two shows that weekend,” said Ralston. “It cost me a lot of money and really, really set me back as a business.”

Ralston did have airtags on numerous items within the trailer. This is because many of the fairgrounds layouts are incredibly new and confusing, according to Ralston. Ralston stated that the bandits would allegedly destroy an air tag shortly after stealing the trailer, likely due to finding the device. Ralston also noted that the culprit spray painted the trailer black in an attempt to disguise it, and that the thieves eventually gained access to the trailer by cutting the lock with a grinder that had been stolen. Additionally, Ralston was never able to locate the tent. The tent had been seemingly moved to a different location, and Ralston stated that the attached air tag was found at the corner of Grandin Street and Norwood Avenue in Jamestown. As for the trailer, it did contain all of the rest of the shelves and tables when it was returned, although the thieves had scratched off the VIN number as well. Despite the damages, and missing tent, Ralston was still able to make it to the next scheduled show at Bemus Point Fallfest. Though the items have been safely returned, Ralston struggles to believe that there will be any compensation given for the significant damages.

“As far as I know it’s still an ongoing investigation. I was trying to go to all of their court appointments, but after a little while they just stopped showing up. No one has contacted me to let me know what is happening, or if anything will happen,” said Ralston.

With the new location in the village, and the ability to house all the company’s products there, Ralston’s business seems to be at a stable point once again. Ralston said half of the back of the building is dedicated to Chautauqua Soap, allowing for products to be made on-site, and that this could be an opportunity to expand her online presence. Ralston also noted the ability to expand local fundraising efforts, with Ralston specifically mentioning a fundraiser that just occurred with Panama Central School.