On Nov. 22, 28 and 29, the Michigan News Agency temporarily reopened for its final sale. The beloved Kalamazoo bookstore closed in February after the owner, Dean Hauck, passed away. The final sale was organized by Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, which purchased the building earlier this year.
“When Kalamazoo Forward Ventures got wind that the previous owner had passed away, we understood her legacy and we understood her passion for literacy, so our organization came in and purchased the building,” said Eric Cuningham, General Principal with Kalamazoo Forward Ventures.
The Michigan News Agency was opened in 1947 by Hauck’s stepfather, and Hauck took it over in 1988. It has been a Kalamazoo staple for decades. The purpose of the reopening was not only to sell the remainder of the store’s inventory, but also to honor Hauck’s legacy and bring the community together in her store one last time.
Kalamazoo Forward Ventures plans to repurpose the space. While they are not specifically planning to keep it as a bookstore, they hope to turn it into something that still recognizes literacy.
“We hope that we can keep some fidelity to her vision and her intent for this space,” said Cuningham. “We’ve recently hired an architectural firm to help us re-envision what it could be.”…