Our Story

Inspired by family roots, the love of food, salt, and farming as well as the magnificent landscape of the Appalachian region, J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile is  the only refined curator of fine Appalachian artisanal goods in West Virginia. A subsidiary of J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works (purveyor of fine Appalachian salt) our family’s “salt saga” began over 200 years ago in Malden, West Virginia with the founding of a salt production business.

The Dickinson Family was one of the largest producers in the area and made salt for more than 120 years. The region was the leading producer of salt in the country, with more than 50 businesses founded, and over 100 wells drilled. Siblings, Nancy Bruns and Lewis Payne, revived the family business in 2013.

As we built the J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works brand, we discovered incredible artisans throughout central Appalachia who create beautiful masterpieces. J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile’s exquisitely made bespoke collection of authentic Appalachian goods is a wonderful homage to the beautifully created commodities of by-gone centuries. The highly skilled master artisans in Appalachia uses the finest ingredients and materials – undoubtedly, there is bountiful creativity and talent in the awe-inspiring Appalachian Mountains.