Millie Magoo's Opens in Lakeside, Ohio, as Ottawa County's Only Bookstore

It’s fitting that Traci Richards owns the only bookstore between Toledo and Sandusky, Ohio, because her own life reads like a novel set in what she calls “the only place to be.”

That place is the village of Lakeside, Ohio — home to Millie Magoo's, the sole bookstore in Ottawa County.

“Lakeside just kind of gets in your bones,” Richards says. “There’s no other place like it.”

Richards, who grew up in Ravenna, Ohio, spent time with family in Lakeside every summer before building a career in the healthcare field in Northern Virginia. She and her husband, Steve Schuster, were at the peak of their careers when the pandemic hit. Given that Schuster had multiple health issues that made him a severe Covid risk, they decided to head to the relative seclusion of Lakeside for a couple of weeks in the spring of 2020.

“He felt so comfortable,” says Richards. After just a few days, the couple knew they wanted to spend the entire summer in Lakeside. They settled into a rhythm of long walks by the lake, playing pickleball and eating ice cream each evening with their dog.

“We took in all of Lakeside that summer,” Richards says. “It was beautiful.”

Then, on Aug. 28, 2020, Schuster suffered a fatal heart attack.

“He was my heart,” Richards says.

Shocked and devastated, Richards packed up everything and drove back to Virginia two weeks later. “I just needed to decompress. So that’s what I did.”

At the time, she was consulting for healthcare clients and spearheading the launch of a national non-profit called 100 Who Care Alliance. She sent out a flurry of emails letting her team know she would be unavailable.

“That was a crazy year. You lose your husband, you go back to an empty house in Virginia and you sit and watch ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Top Gun’ on repeat for six months straight and then decide to sell your house and move.”

One year after Schuster’s death, she was a full-time resident of Lakeside — and looking for a career change.

“Steve and I were more than just partners in life but also business partners. We spent that summer in an ongoing conversation about what would be next for us post-Covid,” Richards says. “A bookstore had always been in the back of our minds and something we considered years earlier.”

So when Lakeside’s tiny bookstore, The Fine Print, was listed for sale it felt like fate. Launched in 2010 by Beverly Bartczak and Joan Price, it was only about 400 square feet but had become a treasure both for locals and for families who visited Lakeside every summer.

Richards bought the store in January — and was already in talks with the owner of a building just 50 yards up the street that had sat empty for years.

“A one-hour meeting with the owner ended up being four hours long,” Richards remembers. “We hit it off. He wanted to do some work on the building, and it turned into a group project. We had a lot of fun putting it together. It used to be this dark, secretive, cold place and now it’s bright and cheery and filled with books.”

After the sale closed, Richards was ready to move all of the inventory and shelving down the road to her new space, just as an early February snowstorm hit. With the help of Bartczak — who surprised Richards by driving up from Columbus, Ohio— the two women got the new space set up. “She’s been a great mentor ever since,” Richards says.

Like any good mentor, Bartczak has ideas.

“Bev and Joan were educators and one of the things that they did when they opened the store up 15 years ago was focus on children’s books,” Richards says. “We have a pretty amazing children’s section but, according to Bev, it’s nowhere near the size it needs to be.”

Another change is that Millie Magoo’s will be open all year (although Richards is still wavering on January).

In theory at least, she can tend the store during slower months while also getting some of her non-profit work done between customers. But it seems like there’s always someone coming around to chat. Or, like during this interview, to drop off homemade black bean soup. And that’s just fine with Richards.

“One of the things I manifested with this store is that it be a beehive and it is a beehive,” she says. “I wanted it to be fun and it is fun. Everybody smiles in the bookstore.”

Somehow, Richards has found the time to tackle something she never wanted to be an expert on. “I’ve been writing for the last five years about grief,” she says. “Am I supposed to be this person who helps others? I’m figuring it out.”

When the time is right, she says, she’ll move forward with publishing her book.

Although she’s a third generation Lakesider, Richards never imagined the kind of life she’s built here. “I’d been away for 28 years,” she says. “It’s hard to break into a community when you’ve been away that long.”

Even though she came to Lakeside alone and in grief, the people she met have proven her wrong.

“There’s a real sense of home here and a real sense of community,” she says. “People genuinely care and don’t expect or want anything in return. I truly am grateful and blessed to call Ottawa County home.”

Traci Richards’ Book Recommendations

What she’s reading now: I typically have three books going at one time. In the morning, I read poetry or a devotional type of book. Currently, I am reading Regina Brett’s “Little Detours and Spiritual Adventures.” In the afternoon, I read nonfiction and I am currently reading “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt for book club. Right now, on my nightstand awaiting me at the end of the day, is “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny” by Kiran Desai, which was shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize. I love literary fiction that is beautifully written and Desai’s book is certainly beautifully written.

One book everyone should read: Anything by Colson Whitehead but “The Nickel Boys” and “The Underground Railroad” are two I keep pointing people towards.

Her favorite book for children: This is a tough question to ask a lover of books and a daughter of a kindergarten teacher. I grew up with an extensive collection of picture books and they were all friends. I loved being read to and when my mom introduced me to “Charlotte’s Web,” I was forever lost inside a book where I could escape into another world and be part of that story. It’s why I love C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia,” or J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Richards’ all-time favorites: They are older books, but “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett, “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving and “The Mists of Avalon” by Marion Zimmer Bradley are three of my all-time favorite books. Kristin Hannah “The Nightingale” and Amor Towles’ “The Rules of Civility” are two others that stick out as well.

A new book she loves: I am reading and working through the journal prompts in Suleika Jaouad’s “The Book of Alchemy.” Journaling was the author’s 100-day project during Covid and the result was this book. It’s thought provoking to hear from famous writers about their journaling and writing process and I’m enjoying the journey so far.

Favorite book set on Lake Erie: Dan Egan’s “The Death and Life of the Great Lakes” is an important book that talks about the health of our lake and the importance of our waters. Though, a children’s book titled “Mae the Mayfly” is a special book that teaches about bullying and friendship along with the life cycle of a mayfly.

Best book on leadership: Brene Brown’s “Dare to Lead” is one to lean on about honest, open and vulnerable communication in the workplace. I also like “Make Your Bed” by Admiral William H. McRaven.

Book that’s helped her through grief: “Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief.” This is the book everyone should buy someone when they suffer a loss.

Favorite work of non-fiction: If you haven’t read “The Devil in the White City” yet, by Erik Larson, you should.

Her shop’s best-selling book: Local debut and award-winning author, Brenda Haas’s book, “Finding Sutton’s Choice.” A story set in Lakeside and a book about coming home, forgiveness and second chances

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