“It’s rewarding to bring something to a small town where they don’t have to travel 40 minutes to get a birthday gift or a good cup of coffee,” said De Smet Mercantile & Coffeehouse co-owner Arthur Lampinen.

Arthur and his wife and co-owner Reena originally owned a bookstore and coffee shop for years in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan called The Bookworm until the building they leased from was sold. Looking for a change, the couple decided to move back to South Dakota nearby where Reena grew up in Vienna—they landed on De Smet.

De Smet Mercantile & Coffeehouse opened in June of 2021 with classic and specialty coffee drinks, regular and gluten-free/dairy-free baked goods, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and a curated selection of books, toys, and locally-made gifts.

They’re also known for their Dirty Sodas, which they call “upgraded” Italian Sodas (also available) with cold foam or cream.

“We have some fun add-ins like boba and candy,” said Arthur. “We are excited to bring these to customers because, while Italian Sodas are a classic, we wanted to build on that and offer more creative combinations.”

Some of the flavors include Ocean Water (Sprite, pineapple, coconut, blue raspberry, vanilla cold foam, and gummy sharks), Strawberries & Cream (Dr. Pepper, strawberry, vanilla cold foam, and freeze-dried strawberries), Popping Dragon (Sprite, mango, dragonfruit, vanilla cold foam, and mango boba), and Cherry Lime Frost (Pepsi, black cherry, lime, and vanilla cold foam).

You can also create your own with varieties of sodas, syrups, sauces, fruit purées, and add-ons.

When asked what the customers’ drink of choice is, Arthur says it’s hard to choose.

“We can’t pick just one favorite drink that is a customer favorite, as we have so many—chai, espresso frappes, blended crèmes, smoothies, and more,” he said. “Our chai is popular all year round. You can get it hot, iced, or blended.”

The staff also often gets rave reviews on the wheatberry bread that is used for the Turkey Bacon Avocado and Turkey and Ham sandwiches.

Their grab-and-go sandwiches and salads are made fresh every morning and put in a cooler, making for a convenient lunch.

“We are particular about having fresh ingredients, and I have to say our salads are always so good because we are picky about the lettuce we use,” said Arthur. “We started out with sandwiches and salads made to order, but we just couldn’t keep up, so we started the grab-and-go cooler.”

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“We want our customers to know how much we appreciate them. We wouldn’t be able to keep offering new things without their support.”

Arthur lampinen

If customers do want a custom ordered sandwich or salad, there is an option to order online and it can be made in 30 minutes.

De Smet Mercantile & Coffeehouse also offers made-to-order breakfast sandwiches until 11 a.m.

“These aren’t your average gas station breakfast sandwiches,” explained Arthur. “We offer spinach, onion, and tomatoes on ours made on a soft, square croissant. These are a must try.”

Their gluten and dairy-free bakery items are made locally in Iroquois by Little Red Bakery. Reena’s aunt also has a bakery out of her home in Willow Lake and drops off scones and cupcakes when she has time.

“We also have ‘regular’ muffins and donuts that pair well with your coffee in the morning,” said Arthur. “There’s always an assortment of baked goods on hand.”

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TIP

Try their ice cream! Need caffeine? Have the best of both worlds with an Affogato.

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The shopping section features high-quality women’s and baby clothing, along with gifts and books for birthdays, baby showers, and other special moments.

“Customers also love our selection of greeting cards to go along with their gift,” said Arthur.

Last month marked their five-year anniversary in De Smet and almost one year in their new location at 4th Street SW. The brick and mortar and drive-thru has seen everything from retirees meeting for a weekly chai or coffee, teachers and nurses grabbing a caffeinated beverage before work, and school-aged kids who swing in for a drink or snack. During tourism season, the mercantile and coffee shop also sees guests from all over the world.

“It’s been fun to watch people relive their childhood and get so excited to experience Laura Ingalls Wilder,” said Arthur. “We are especially busy during the annual pageant, which takes place the last three weekends in July.”

Five years in, and the Lampinens are looking forward to five years more and beyond in De Smet.

“What we like about De Smet is that it’s a small, but busy little town and everyone looks out for each other,” said Arthur. “The locals make a point to support the small businesses in town. I have heard tourists say, ‘It’s so calm and peaceful here.’”

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