Congratulations to McLean and Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, Mich., which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The News-Review reported that the "staple in the downtown Petoskey business community... first began due to a love of reading and retail. Over the years it has grown in size, in part, due to its loyal customers and dedicated staff."
Opened in 1992 by Julie Norcross, the bookstore is now owned by her son Matt and his wife, Jessilynn. Matt Norcross began working at the store as a teenager, then returned after college with plans to leave again to attend grad school. "I was going to look at grad schools and I met a girl that was working there and I didn't really want to leave town," he recalled.
Before moving to Petoskey, Jessilynn Norcross had been teaching elementary school in Detroit. She said she decided she needed a change and came to Petoskey intending to work at the store part-time and substitute teach: "That was my whole plan and very quickly (I) transitioned to full time, transitioned to salary, fell in love, got married, bought the store, just kind of weird progression that I hadn't expected."
The Norcrosses added that part of what sets McLean and Eakin apart is its passionate staff. The employees are all avid readers with a wide range of tastes and interests so there is always someone who can help a customer find what they are looking for.
While she is no longer involved in the store, Julie Norcross agreed: "I think that the people who work there are absolutely the tops. I've been in other good, independent bookstores and while they are independent, they couldn't reach the caliber of the people who are working at McLean and Eakin now. These people have got so much enthusiasm, so much intelligence, so much creativity. It's just wonderful."