Serendipity Books swapped storefronts with Copper Crate Mercantile & Unique Rentals and moved from W. Middle to E. Middle St. at the beginning of this year. The move not only gives Serendipity owner Michelle Tuplin the large front windows she’d wished for, but also an expanded book selection. Formerly a used bookstore, Serendipity now sells both new and used books (“it’s about fifty-fifty,” she says). She credits a $10,000 “Survive to Thrive” grant from the Ann Arbor–based Book Industry Charitable Foundation: it allowed her to purchase a new computer system, invest heavily in inventory, pay for the move and renovations, and launch a new website.
She enjoys seeing all ages at the shop, from grandparents with their grandkids to a “younger demographic,” ages fourteen to twenty-five. “They think it’s the coolest thing to look for Dostoevsky, or Kafka’s short stories. Then they’ll pick out some stickers or temporary tattoos.” The store also sells tote bags, puzzles, pins, cards, and journals.
Tuplin’s new space is the former home of Cranesbill Books, which closed in 2009. After displaying Cranesbill’s “Read” sign at her former location, Tuplin has returned the handcrafted piece by metal artisan Rick DeTroyer to its original spot, where it hangs above her register. “It fits perfectly,” she says.
Serendipity Books, 108 E. Middle St. (734) 475–7148. Mon.–Wed. & Sat., 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. noon–4 p.m. serendipity-books.com
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On W. Middle St., Chelsea Burger opened at the end of 2020 after lengthy renovations in Seitz’s Tavern’s former spot (the iconic wooden bar, cash register, and “Seitz’s” sign remain). Chelsea residents and business partners Paul Fredenberg and Raunaq Savur offer burgers—including chicken and black bean options—fries, and shakes made with Guernsey dairy products.
Chelsea Burger, 110 W. Middle St. (734) 562–2916. Mon.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. (Thurs. in June and July, 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.) mychelseaburger.com
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Mary Harding took over Bill Harris’s Just Imagine books and toys storefront after he retired in March 2020, just as Covid hit. With the help of friends and family—including her husband, Tom, who’s retired and refurbishes items from furniture to farm antiques for the shop—she was able to open her store, the Cottage Rabbit by June. It offers a mix of new, vintage, and antique home décor from eight different vendors, as well as select gift items from local artisans.
Harding, who lives in Tecumseh and had rented an antique booth there, says “my heart was always set on this cute little town” to open a business, “and it was the best decision to be here.” She says, “We get regular customers who come in three or four times a week” because the inventory is always changing. “We move with the seasons and the holidays, and you can always find something new and different.”
The Cottage Rabbit, 115 W. Middle St. (734) 562–2084. Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–4 p.m. Closed Mon. thecottagerabbit.com
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Juliane and Jordan Knepper opened La Jument Equestrian Lifestyle Boutique in the Chelsea Shopping Center on S. Main last June. Jordan grew up riding outside Sante Fe and was a member of Vanderbilt University’s equestrian team. Juliane, who grew up in Livonia, realized soon after their first date, when he gave her a private riding lesson, that “riding and horses would become our life.” Married with two young children, one horse, and a teenage niece they’ve helped nurture into a horse show champion, she says the family wanted to bring a variety of equestrian products to the community—for both humans and horses.
From riding boots and helmets to extensive show gear, “We have custom items as well as mid-range price points … Our customers range from the beginner to the eighty-year-old dressage [rider],” Juliane says. They also supply a variety of horse accessories including handcrafted reins, blankets, shampoo, treats, and wound-care protects.
La Jument Equestrian Lifestyle Boutique, 1060 S. Main St. (734) 562–2522. Tues., Wed., & Fri. noon–6 p.m., Thurs. noon–7 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon.
la-jument.com
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Larry Hart, who co-owns Main St.’s Artisan Knitworks with his wife, Sandra VanBurkleo, opened a photography gallery, Artisan Pixworks, on W. Middle. He’s been taking photos since he was a kid, and says his best-selling prints feature the Chelsea landscape, including a close-up of a lug on an antique tractor on Werkner Rd., old barn interiors, and wildflowers along Jerusalem Rd. Hart also sells cards, jewelry, and pottery, and will be at the Ann Arbor Art Fair in July.
Artisan Pixworks, 105½ W. Middle St. (734) 562–2768. Wed., Sat., & Sun. noon–5 p.m., Thurs. & Fri. noon–6 p.m. Closed Mon. & Tues. facebook.com/larryhartphotographer
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At the end of 2021, Camping World announced it would purchase Lloyd Bridges Traveland’s locations on Main St. and US–12. On a visit to the Main St. location in mid-April, Traveland’s colorful murals of mountains, streams, and sky were painted over in white, and workers were prepping the concrete for the new showroom floor.
The “small town dealer with wholesale prices,” as Lloyd Bridges Traveland advertised itself, was incorporated in Walled Lake in 1966 by Bridges, who moved it to Chelsea in 1972. His two sons, Jerry and Charlie, joined the business in the 1980s.
The family’s exit was well-timed: as travelers shunned airplanes and remote workers hit the road, RV makers set all-time sales records last year. Camping World should be able to weather any downturn from the gas-price shock that followed Russia’s attack on Ukraine: with more than 180 locations, it’s the nation’s largest RV dealer.
Camping World, 1603 S. Main St. (844) 758–1077. Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. rv.campingworld.com
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After twenty-seven years on Main St., Vogel’s and Foster’s owner Mike Jackson announced his retirement at the end of 2021. One of the oldest department stores in the country, according to its website, it opened more than 130 years ago as H.S. Holmes Mercantile. It featured an old-fashioned water fountain, creaky wooden floors, and antique fixtures, and offered everything from colorful socks to funky shoes to traditional and designer men’s and women’s clothing.
In the early 1900s the building featured two separate storefronts, Vogel’s and Foster’s—the owners’ namesakes. Jack and Friedelle Winans bought one store after Helen Vogel died in 1973 and the other after Bob Foster retired in 1977 to create the store that Mike Jackson purchased in 1994.
At press time, FarmSudz owner Julie Konkle was in final lease negotiations to move into half the storefront from her basement-level location across the street. “We’ll have three times the space, windows, and a bigger kitchen,” emails Konkle, who sells handcrafted goat-milk soaps and natural skincare products. “We are beyond excited!” She plans to move by June 1. The other half of the Vogel’s and Foster’s space still awaits a new tenant.
Farm Sudz, 104 S. Main St., #2 downstairs, Chelsea. Moving June 2022 to 109 S. Main St. (734) 593–7030. Tues.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon. farmsudz.com
