This article originally appeared on Sarasota Patch (Nov. 8, 2013). Dr. Molly Kraut, local veterinarian and owner of US Mart in Venice, is pleased to announce that 15% of all sales at US Mart will be donated to the United Way of South Sarasota County on Saturday, November 9, 2013. US Mart is the only store in this region selling products that are all made in the United States.  The retail store is located at 1740 East Venice Ave and the store will be open from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm on Saturday for this event. “I grew up here and giving back to this community is something that is very important to me,” said Dr. Molly Kraut, owner of US Mart. “We are very…

This article originally appeared on Bay News 9 (Sept. 1, 2013). VENICE — In special Labor Day spirit, a store in Sarasota County that sells only American-made products, is donating 20 percent of their profits on Monday. US Mart in Venice is a modern day general store dedicated to products made in the USA. The store has decided to give back to Americans by donating 20 percent of their proceeds to the American Legion across the street. “I love the fact when you buy things and know you are helping somebody here,” said Molly Kraut, Owner of US Mart.  “That’s a great feeling.” Nella Valenti, who shops frequently at US Mart, said the fact that they sell only USA made products is a big attraction. ”I…

Patriotic Part   This article originally appeared in the Business Observer (July 19, 2013). Local veterinarian Molly Caldwell Kraut’s business passion for the last 15 years has been in animals, not necessarily the American spirit. But her new venture, a retail-general store that only sells products totally assembled and manufactured in the U.S., from Elmer’s Glue to Texas Jeans, is all about patriotic entrepreneurialism. The store, US Mart, in a Venice strip mall next to a Subway and an Italian restaurant, carries national pride down its phone number: 941-412-1USA. Kraut is even in the final stages of opening a U.S. Post Office branch inside the 3,000-square-foot store. US Mart is the culmination of several conversations Kraut has had with her daughter and father-in-law. Those chats…

Venice store only sells items made in USA   This article originally appeared in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune (July 3, 2013). VENICE – Molly Kraut found out just how hard it is to sell only made-in-America products when she began ordering American flags.   It turns out that, while the flags were made in America, the stands came from China. So, at US Mart, you can buy a flag, but not a stand. Kraut, 47, a veterinarian by profession, this year opened US Mart on East Venice Avenue, a modern-day general store that sells everything from brooms to toys, all united by one principle: Made In America. Kraut said the store grew out of years of her own shopping frustrations. Her father-in-law was concerned about the growing…