In just a few weeks, the community of Port Washington, Wis., will welcome a new indie bookstore: Craft, owned by Ethan and Jackie Hill. "We're starting small," Ethan explained, "in a 500-square-foot space that was formerly occupied by a psychic." They should open by Memorial Day, but next spring, the couple plans to move the store into a 10,000-square-foot space in a building currently being reconstructed.
Port Washington is 30 minutes north of Milwaukee, in an up-and-coming community on Lake Michigan with a steady year-round population, boosted by tourists in the summer, according to the Hills. The name Craft is meant to encompass many elements: books, of course, along with craft beer and coffee, food, and work by local artisans and musicians.
Wisconsin's newest booksellers come from families of readers; the Hills have always been avid readers. Ethan previously worked at a small investment firm, which he left in August, and Jackie is a retired teacher who now works with senior citizens.
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| Ethan and Jackie Hill with the first book orders. | |
For now, the Hills have partnered with a nearby banquet space for author events, and there is a park across the street that they'll use for kids' activities (there are six schools nearby). The bustling neighborhood is already home to numerous restaurants and shops, with plenty of foot traffic and parking.
Ethan Hill noted that the closest bookstores have been very welcoming, and he's been "interning" at Books & Co. in Oconomowoc, Wis. He's using data about top sellers from that store to help refine the inventory at Craft, as well as picks from a recent Rep Night. The first orders of books, from Ingram, are arriving at the store now, and the goal is to open with a stock of about 750 titles. The small store will allow the Hills to refine their inventory and prepare for the shift to a larger space.