After 44 years of operating Enerdyne at various locations in downtown Suttons Bay, Dick and Pat Cookman are passing on the torch to Barb’s Bakery owner Margo Millard, who acquired ownership of the business in June. Millard is also the new owner of Brain Storm, formerly owned by Michele Dansereau and Andy Patterson, which is housed in the same building.
“It’s been going really well. I started coming in pretty regularly in the early spring. I was here every week learning from Dick, Andy, Michele, and the other staff about the ins and outs, the products we carry, and how we serve customers, which I think is really something that sets the store apart,” Millard said. “Him (Dick) and Pat spent the last 40 years building out this business, and I think a reason why this deal worked out so well is because that is exactly why we were interested in it — carrying on what was built. We’re kind of holding hands moving together in the next generation.”
Cookman will still be in from time to time working as a consultant in the fine optics section of the store, however, Millard will be running everything else. The business and its science and nature themed products help to promote understanding of the natural world and beyond by means of “hands-on discovery.”
“When people come in, I help them decide what particular instrument or binocular telescope — whatever is going to work best for them,” Cookman said. “It will continue to be a science and nature store, but we are continuing to get in new stuff when it becomes available.”
Within its building walls are science books on topics like astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology and the weather, but there’s also an entire section dedicated to optics, which features telescopes and accessories, binoculars, spotting scopes and other optical aids. In addition, there are weather instruments for sale like DIY weather station kits, traditional analog meters, and versatile digital devices. Games and activities for youth are abundant in stock, from toys and specimens, to tools and other kits that could be used to both entertain and teach with. An array of geologic treasures are on display such as various minerals and stones, rockhounding supplies, maps, and relevant books.
“Everything else has remained the same. The entire staff that was working for Andy and Michele as well as Dick before has stayed on, but we have added a few new faces for the summer,” Millard explained. “It’s been really exciting to see all the customers coming in. It feels like the majority of them are very loyal, old customers. They say it’s part of their summer tradition… It’s been nice because I don’t think people have really noticed and I think that’s kind of been the intention. I think similar to when we bought the bakery, the reason we were interested in this is to maintain and continue on the legacy.”
Discussion about the business selling began with the Millard’s a few years ago, Cookman recalled, adding that Margo’s relatives have even worked at the store with him in the past. Cookman said he and the Millard’s have had an ongoing friendship for many years, and is confident that they will bring much expertise to the business and its continued success.
“Her (Margo’s) husband David grew up here and his family lives in Northport. They would shop at Enerdyne…” Cookman said. “We have infused new blood into the business, and she’s coming in with new ideas, so there’s going to be continued evolution of the business. I’m very optimistic about the future of Enerdyne, and I think it’s going to be growing and it’s going to get better and better.”
Millard said it’s always been her and her husband’s intention to move to Leelanau County, and one way they hoped to facilitate that transition is through acquiring businesses that they admired and wanted to see continue to thrive.
“My husband’s family have been loyal customers and admirers of Enerdyne… I think how it fosters interest and curiosity in science and nature is something that is at the center of our families and interests,” she said.
Cookman’s background in science dates back to his studies and his career as an astronomy/ geology professor at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), where he taught for 30 years. He opened Enerdyne in 1980 while he was teaching, retired from NMC in 2000, and continued running the business with his wife until this year. Now in his semi-retirement years, Cookman said he will miss interacting with his customers the most and ultimately leading the company and its mission, which has always been relaying the message that science is in fact exciting.
“Science is fun and people need to understand that,” Cookman said.
While Millard said she and her staff are still learning the ropes of the business, she hopes to add more hands-on activities, local products and offerings in the future.
“I think some different things we’re hoping to bring in especially in the winter and fall slower seasons would be workshops, seminars, or author highlights where people can come in and meet authors or learn how to polish a Petoskey stone and different things like that,” she said. “Increasing the hands-on aspect because I think that’s really what sets us apart.”
Working at the store every day for the last couple months has shown Millard that Enerdyne is more than just a business, but that it’s a community. People that visit don’t just stop in to purchase something, but she said they come back time and time again to interact and get to know the people that work there.
“People seem to make a concerted effort in their trip to spend time with us as part of tradition, and I think there’s not only that tradition on the customer side, but also in the operations of the business side,” she said. “... It took a community to get it (Enerdyne) here. It wasn’t just Pat and Dick or Andy and Michele with Brain Storm, but all the employees who’ve worked with them over the years… We have a high schooler who works for us whose mom worked for us when she was in high school. So it’s really a true community, which is lovely.”
