Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor, Mich., has a new owner. The Glen Arbor Sun reported that Jenny Puvogel acquired the "cozy bookshop in a nearly 100-year-old log cabin" from Sue Boucher, effective April 1, after working there for five years. Boucher bought the store 10 years ago from Barbara Siepker, who had purchased it from founder Mollie Weeks in 1995 and then moved it across Lake Street to its current location.
Asked what had inspired her to buy Cottage Bookshop, Puvogel said, "The short answer is people. First of all I love all of the people that I work with. Kim, Anne, Sue, Amy, Bonnie and Sue are all such thoughtful, caring, smart, community-oriented people that I am happy to call my friends. Buying the book shop so that we could all continue to do what we love (help people find the right books) seemed like the perfect thing to do for the foreseeable future.
"Also, the people who come into the shop. I look forward to continue to provide a place where everyone is welcome and everyone can find something that they are interested in or that speaks to them We love to hear people say, 'This is our favorite bookstore,' or 'We come here first thing on arrival in town to get our books for the week, and the last thing before we leave to stock up for our trip back home.' "
Puvogel said owning a bookshop in a 100-plus-year-old log cabin appealed to her, "but more than that, Sue and Barb have always curated a collection of books that has something for everyone. We hope to continue the traditions."
In a store e-newsletter item announcing the change earlier this spring, the staff noted that Boucher "will stay on and be the book buyer and as a mentor to Jenny," adding: "We are thankful for you, our wonderful customers who make this journey an absolute delight. We love sharing books and stories with you and look forward to seeing everyone soon."