The Black Pony

Today, the Black Pony is a prosperous microbrewery shop that serves delicious food and tasty beer in downtown Maryville, Missouri. The establishment was opened in June of 2021 by four individuals. The building where the Black Pony is has a history of being successful. For instance, before it was a microbrewery it was a hardware store and drug store.

In 1886, the Black Pony building started as a hardware store. Hardware stores at the time were often referred to as “DIY stores” and sold all sorts of goods and services to people. The “DIY stores” mostly revolved around agriculture and industrial needs for the community by providing essential tools. The store also sold home supplies such as building materials, cleaning products, paint, wallpaper, and more. The hardware store was successful for the most part in providing the needs of people and meeting their profitable desires. 

Although the hardware store was successful, it wasn’t long until it became a better and more successful business. In 1909, the local hardware store changed to a drug store. The drug store was characterized as a small business and sold typical products a pharmacy would today. The drugstore became so prosperous that it was selected as an exclusive agent to Rexall Products in 1921. Rexall Products was known for excellence and for being responsible for 10,000 retail drug stores throughout the United States.

Rexall came to an end and the local drug store became a microbrewery. The business was thriving, but by the mid-twentieth century an increase in competition, lowered drug prices, and reduced government subsidies became problematic. By 1977, the value of Rexall became progressively worse, and it was sold to private investors. The information of what happened to the local drug store after the Rexall company shut down, lacks information. The building stood empty for several years before residents Kent Yount, Stephanie Campbell, Brandon, and Jen Jensen purchased the property to turn it into a coffee shop. The Black Pony opened in June of 2021 as the first modern-day microbrewery facility in Maryville.

The History of American Pharmacies, https://www.wellrx.com/news/the-history-of-american-pharmacies/#:~:text=Early%20American%20pharmacies%20were%20referred,dispensing%20remedies%20and%20counseling%20patients.

Kailee Ford, “Black Pony Brewing Company pushes opening date to June 2021,” Northwest Missourian, May 16, 2021.

1886 Sanborn Map: Maryville, MO, https://www.nwmissourinews.com/news/article_a0c1a3da-86c9-11eb-87a2-03f6f9b4c39e.html.

1909 Sanborn Map: Maryville, MO, https://www.nwmissourinews.com/news/article_a0c1a3da-86c9-11eb-87a2-03f6f9b4c39e.html.

“The Maryville Tribune,” The Maryville Daily Forum, Thursday Feb. 24, 1921. 

The Origins of the Hardware Industry, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/origins-hardware-industry-steve-collinge. 

Skye Pournazari, "Leading the Charge," Maryville Forum, Nov. 5, 2020.