PRAIRIE CITY — Two weeks into ownership of the Mountain View City Mini Mart in Prairie City, new owners Josh and Elisha Nightingale are settling in.

The pair are not strangers to Prairie City, having moved there from Silverton around three years ago. The journey to purchasing the store after three years in the community started with a trip to the market by Josh for a case of beer.

The store was not listed for sale at the time, according to Elisha, but talks between Josh and the former owner of the establishment during that beer run were the catalyst to setting things in motion.

“I came in here for a case of beer, and the rest is history,” Josh said.

“Most expensive beer we’ve ever bought,” Elisha added.

Josh said the idea of owning the Mountain View Mini Mart was something that he’d had in mind for the past couple of years, but nothing came of it until after that fateful beer run.

“They were just ready to sell, and so the owners and I, Scott and Joy, started talking about it and it worked out,” he said.

The road to making the deal happen was full of uncertainty until it wasn’t, according to the Nightingales.

“It was complete doubt — we had no idea that it would actually work and pan out,” Elisha said.

“It was kind of a jump and let’s see what happens kind of thing and everything fell into place and before we knew it, it was time to sign papers — and I think we were a little caught off-guard,” Elisha added.

“I think (the old owners) were, too,” Josh explained. “Everyone was like, ‘Oh, this is really happening.’”

The Nightingales took ownership of the Mountain View Mini Mart on Monday, June 19, describing the process as a smooth transition.

“They built up a great business,” Elisha said, “and so stepping into what they built up has been just a really easy transition because they built up something great and have a good reputation within the community, and we just hope to expand on that.”

The duo purchased the establishment for an undisclosed sum, which did include the case of beer.

“It was a nice case of beer,” Josh added, “high quality.”

The pair plan to keep many of the things that have made the mini mart a success while putting their own mark on store offerings.

“Keeping all of the stuff that has been really successful so far and just keeping that but really expanding more on the barbecue,” Josh said. “We’re going to get a big ol’ smoker out here and do that.”

The Nightingales said the community reaction to them taking over the mini mart has been great. “Super-friendly and open … we’ve known a lot of the people here because we live here,” Josh said.

“Things have been really smooth.”

WHAT: Mountain View Mini Mart

WHERE: 211 Front St., Prairie City 

HOURS: 4:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays

OFFERINGS: Hot deli items, beer, ice, snack foods and cold soft drinks