The problem with old pictures
Oh, how I love looking at old pictures of Bachmann's Store! I found this little beauty in a cigar box tucked in the back of our old filing cabinet. And, of course, I had to share it with you. Maybe together we can figure out some of the mysteries this vintage image presents. There is nothing written on the back, and that's the problem. I am certain the photographer never dreamed someone like me in 2016 would find this old picture, but I wish he would have. I wish that every
The Heart of Central Lake
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and today our Michigan temperature is eight degrees below zero. To thaw my mind, I started thinking about why Bachmann's Store and Central Lake have been together for so many years. There's a reason why Paul and Winnie Bachmann decided in 1942 to open their little five-and-dime in Central Lake. Actually, there were several reasons, and those reamain as true today as they were almost eighty years ago. 1. Central Lake's People--They are friendly, ki
How to keep monkeys from taking your coffee cups
Bachmann's Store prides itself in being the place where you can find exactly what you need, especially after you've looked around the world with no luck. We like to say, "If we don't have it, you don't need it!" On a recent busy Saturday, a customer asked if we have carabiners--you know, those little clips that people use for keychains and mountain climbing. OF COURSE, we have both kinds. She tested both and selected the lighter-weight model. After she purchased five, we had
"Hey, was the Bachmann's building once a bank?"
Oh, if I had a dime for every time I hear that question...I would keep them all in my bank vault! Yes, half of Bachmann's Store was a bank from 1897, or so, until 1933. What was once the bank vault is now my office. It's surrounded by twenty-four inches of concrete and was built on its own foundation. The interior is lined with steel. If there's ever a nuclear holocaust, I will be all set! The distinctive embellishments on the outside of the vault are one-of-a-kind. Are they
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