McLean & Eakin Shines in Petoskey for 15 Years

McLean & Eakin, Booksellers has brightened Petoskey, Michigan's downtown Gaslight District for the past 15 years. Founded and owned by Julie Norcross, the 5,000-square-foot, two-story general bookstore, named in honor of the grandmothers of Norcross and her husband, resembles an inviting cottage, with knotty pine paneling and a fireplace.

Petoskey, for many years a very popular summer tourist destination, has a growing year-round population, according to Susan Capaldi, who manages the store with Norcross' son, Matthew.

The town, located on the shores of Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay, and near other sparkling lakes, draws thousands of vacationers eager to partake in the excellent, swimming, boating, and fishing in the region. Ernest Hemingway spent his childhood summers in the area, and Petoskey and nearby Walloon Lake provided the setting of several of his Nick Adams stories.

Also attracting thousands of visitors is the Bay View Music Festival and Conservatory, one of the nation's oldest summer music festivals. The Bay View Association, founded as a summer encampment of the United Methodist Church in 1875, features 438 summer cottages built around the turn of the 19th century.

According to Capaldi, the impact of the Bay View community on local businesses is "huge," particularly during the festival months, but "now expanding, from early May through November."

McLean & Eakin hosts many events and discussion groups throughout the year. Children's author/illustrator Tomie dePaola recently attracted an audience of 150, Capaldi recalled. Bestselling suspense writer Laura Lippman will be in town for the store's "Booked for Lunch" series. Regular children's events and a number of store-sponsored book clubs keep the calendar full.

Capaldi noted that while about 15 percent of the store's shelf space is allocated to children's books, they account for more than 30 percent of sales. She spoke with obvious pride about the store's "10% for Schools Program," which directs 10 percent of every purchase to the school of the customer's choice. Over $64,000 has been raised for schools over the years. Twice a year, designated schools receive a Book Sense gift card in the amount raised, which they use to purchase books for the school library.

Also contributing to the store's appeal is its extensive array of unique sidelines, including headbands and scarves, corkscrews and wine bottle thermometers for boating excursions, stylish packing aids for travelers, puzzles, and a series of games from the Cranium series for days when inclement weather keeps active children indoors.

The importance of partnering with others has always been recognized by Norcross. The store is active in the community's "Buy Local" campaign and is a member of both the American Booksellers Association and the Great Lakes Booksellers Association.

McLean & Eakin's community involvement and innovative programming has brought it a number of honors during its 15 years. In 2004, Norcross was honored with the 2004 Haslam Award for Excellence in Bookselling, and in 2000 the store was recognized for its creative children's programming with the Lucile Micheels Pannell Award.

Capaldi told BTW that the store "heavily emphasizes all the Book Sense Picks. We display the recommendations and the bestsellers. We have sections [for Book Sense books] with prominent signs and people gravitate to those areas."

The knowledgeable staff is a strong contributor to the store's longevity. Capaldi noted that the dozen or so staff members "hit every decade from 16 to 68 -- all together we have about 90 years of bookselling experience." --Nomi Schwartz