CMU alumna and former student open used book store in Mecosta

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Central Michigan University alumni Jacqueline Aldrich and husband James Aldrich have not let the struggling economy affect their business plan.

J&J Book Dealers, located in Mecosta, opened for business in early July.

“I never thought I would own a bookstore when I graduated from school finally, but I’m really glad that I do,” Jacqueline said.

James attended CMU for a time, but did not graduate. Jacqueline graduated from CMU with aspirations of becoming a teacher, but ended up opening a bookstore instead.

Statistics taken from CMU’s Career Center website show out of 993 2009-10 graduates surveyed, 88.1 percent were employed in their field. Graduation statistics taken from a separate section of CMU’s website showed there were a grand total of 2,114 graduates in 2010.

Jacqueline said she had many friends and acquaintances who graduated and could not find jobs.

“I know a few people that have graduated with a specific degree thinking you knew exactly what you were going into as a career and after you graduate, sometimes it turns out that is really not the case,” she said.

Jacqueline was substitute teaching after she earned her degree, but said for years her husband was passionate about opening a bookstore.

“He signed the lease on this building before I met him, a few years back,” Jacqueline said. “He was having a hard time coming up with the funds to take it to the next level to where it needed to be. But then when we got married, we just started to take it a lot more seriously and really just put all of our time and all of our money into making this place openable.”

She said there were periods of panic she went through stemming from not having a career related to her degree.

“But you know, it could be another transition period and it could turn into just another opportunity,” Jacqueline said.

James said he worked at the used book gallery across the street from his new store and had known the owner for years.

“He’s the one who taught me the business, and I’ve worked with him for a little while,” James said. “One of the buildings across from him came up and I decided to buy that and start another store.”

The couple has had to make sacrifices to open the store, however. Jacqueline said the couple had to move out of their apartment and in with James’ family on their farm in Remus.

“Literally all of our money is being put into making this store possible and I’m here all the time,” she said. “He works full time at a greenhouse in Mount Pleasant.”

James said the couple tried to go to a bank for a small business loan but were declined, which set things back a few months. He said since opening, the store has been doing very well.

“I’m excited about it. The economy is kind of crappy right now, but it’ll improve with some time,” he said. “With the way we run (the) business, we don’t have to put up with any overhead or middlemen, so we’re pretty recession-proof, and stuff will get better, and we’re excited about it.”