One crazy winter night not too long ago, my amazing, wonderfully spontaneous husband turned to me and asked, “Would you be interested in running a bookstore?” I remember we were sitting in the car, on the way home from an impromptu dinner together—thank you, Kendra! I don’t remember exactly what we were discussing, other than our shared desire for change. It seemed like such a wild idea, though I was instantly thrilled by it. I remember asking, “Wait, are you serious?” But the more I thought about it, the more I researched, the more I loved this idea.
Over the last year, I’ve been spending more time on hobbies I genuinely enjoy—most notably, jigsaw puzzles. I dabbled as a kid, and during the pandemic, I rediscovered my love for them. Since then, especially during the winter months when outdoor activities are less appealing, puzzling has become a calming activity that has helped me foster amazing connections in my community and deepen existing friendships.
How does this lead to my desire to open a bookstore? Be patient—I promise I’ll get there.
For a while, I was slowly collecting puzzles, but to save space and funds, I would redo the ones I had. Then I started buying used puzzles, figuring I could tolerate a few missing pieces. That’s when the fun really began. I made weekly trips to Half Price Books and frequently checked online for used puzzles. I was buying them like crazy—so much so that the Half Price Books in Mishawaka has tripled their puzzle stock since then. Some might say it’s directly due to the ridiculous amounts of money I’ve personally spent there, but that’s just a silly theory propagated by haters.
At any rate, I love bookstores, and my weekly trips to Half Price solidified that realization.
Meanwhile, starting in September of last year, my best friend and I launched a book club. Before this, I had dabbled in audiobooks, but once the book club started, I was consuming them voraciously. It’s amazing because puzzling and audiobooks go together so well. This experience truly cemented my love for bookstores. While I didn’t always buy physical books—though I sometimes miss the ability to write notes and highlight—I loved browsing bookstore tables to find titles to add to my never-ending “to-read” list.
So, my amazing husband’s random thought has since transformed into a beautiful dream and a somewhat crazy plan.
The Plan: Our bookstore, Serial & Milk—a play off book series and coffee—will be located in Elkhart that offers a space for community gatherings—a cultural hub that fosters connections through the celebration of books, puzzles, and board games. Because what goes better together than a good hobby and a comfy beverage? We hope to open within six months to a year, depending on securing a suitable location and working out the logistics.
The Why: Other than my own obsession with books, puzzles, and similar products? Other than my love for hosting events, creative outlets, and social connections? Because books matter—deeply. I don’t want to get too into the weeds here, but I have fallen hard for books. There’s a reason people are so passionate about bookstores and other community spaces—they can and do change lives.
The How: I’ve been researching for months, collecting ideas, drawing inspiration, and formulating a plan. I’ve visited some amazing bookstores, discovered others through social media, and had wonderful conversations with experienced booksellers. I can’t wait to share more details on these in an upcoming post.
There is still a ton to figure out, from finding the perfect location to curating a selection of books, puzzles, and games that will resonate with our community. This process is both exhilarating and overwhelming, but I know that sharing this journey will make it even more rewarding.
I have decided to share the news and document every step—sharing my experiences, diving into book-related conversations, providing updates on progress, and engaging with the community to understand their preferences—what they want to see, read, and experience in a local bookstore. I want this to be a space where book lovers, puzzle enthusiasts, and community members can come together to exchange ideas and shape the vision of Serial & Milk.
This journey is just beginning, and I’m excited to take you all along for the ride. Stay tuned for more updates, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
