Island Books and Crafts opens in Sault Ste. Marie

If you've walked through downtown Sault Ste. Marie lately, you can't help but notice the new occupant on the corner of Ashmun Street and Portage Avenue, Island Books and Crafts.

The recently-opened bookstore isn't your typical small-town bookstore; it's also a showplace for more than 80 U.P. artists and crafters to display their goods and creations.

That's partly because the building it occupies, the historic Sault Savings Bank building, also formerly Traverse Bay Woolen, offered owner Les Townsend so much space that he began thinking up ways to use it all and support other local businesses.

"We started with the idea of doing both books and crafts in one store," says the Sugar Island businessman. "Eighty-one people have stuff in here for sale now. There's paintings and there's woodcrafts and all kinds of cloth crafts."

Jewelry, handmade furniture, birdhouses, photographs, prints, quilts, greeting cards, handmade toys and purses are among the other locally-crafted offerings you'll find upon walking into the high-ceilinged, sunny store. It's not a stretch to say most people will find it a challenge to leave the store without finding something they have to have.

Townsend first opened Island Books & Crafts in December of 2010, right before Christmas, but held a grand opening in May. "Once the snow was gone," he says.

Townsend's focus on local arts and crafts also extends to local books. While the shelves of used books are extensive, the section of new books holds names familiar to readers across the U.P.

"We have all the U.P. authors we can find," says Townsend. "Local authors and everybody that writes about local stuff."

Rounding out the shop's offerings are a series of art classes on topics like jewelry making and oil painting, often led by artists who exhibit at Island Books and Crafts.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 101 East Portage Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Les Townsend, Island Books & Crafts