About The Mill - The Mill - Manistique, MI

Originally an Atlantic and Pacific Tea and Coffee Company, then a general store and five-and-dime, and most recently the Manistique Radio Center; 216 S. Cedar Street has played an important role in Manistique’s downtown district for over 100 years. In 2022, the current owners – four lifelong Michiganders including two U.P. natives – purchased the building with dreams of restoring its original charm and turning it into a thriving downtown market, The Mill Manistique.

In the summer of 2023, a loving restoration began. Layer upon layer of wall and floor covering were painstakingly stripped away to expose the brick walls, wood flooring, iron supports and beadboard ceilings that the building’s original customers would have enjoyed at the turn of the 20th century. The Mill’s flagship store, Paper Mill Books, officially opened in August 2023. The Mill team spent most of the following year expanding the retail space and as of summer 2024, has opened an eclectic and dynamic market featuring a diverse and expanding variety of retailers.

The Mill Manistique owners, left to right: Eric Neilson, Kathreen Francis, Eric Johnson, Meagan Francis

Sisters Kathreen Francis (left) and Meagan Francis (right) grew up in the Upper Peninsula, living in Munising, Kinross, and Sault Ste. Marie. Though both sisters moved downstate in their teens, they continued to return frequently for adventures and vacation - eventually bringing along their spouses, "the Erics" (Eric Neilson, left, and Eric Johnson, right), who also fell in love with the U.P.

When deciding on a place to make a more long-term investment, Manistique--with its laid-back attitude, charming downtown district, beautiful lakeshore and abundant natural beauty--was an easy choice. An idea for a bookstore quickly expanded into a much larger vision: a full-fledged public retail market.

With the building at 216 S. Cedar secured, the foursome dove in and got to work, with tradesman Eric Johnson working painstakingly to restore the 100+ year old building to its original beauty, experienced booksellers Kathreen Francis and Eric Neilson - who met while working in a bookstore in Lansing - leading the retail management, and writer and content creator Meagan Francis fronting marketing & communications efforts.

Paper Mill Books, the flagship store operated by Kathreen and "Eric N.", opened in summer of 2023 to an enthusiastic and appreciative public, and new shops Bevy Tea (quality tea, teaware, and gifts), Fireside Trading Co. (campfire essentials, souvenirs, snacks and drinks), and Pulp + Fiber (stationery & craft supplies) opened in June 2024. With word spreading and new vendors lining up to join the market, The Mill is poised to continue growing - and bringing even more unique shopping experiences to downtown Manistique.