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A wave of social media rumors last week caused some residents to assume the 104-year-old Little Traveler is shutting its doors. It isn't.
Owner Mike Simon wants to be clear: the Geneva store is thriving, he loves running it, and he's simply begun a thoughtful search for the right next owner, whenever that person comes along.
Here's what to know:
Where the confusion started: Simon's Summer Almanack message described his search for a future owner, and a headline in another publication led some readers to assume the store was closing. Simon said some customers even came in looking for a going-out-of-business sale.
The actual situation: In terms of the next owner, Simon wrote that he’s looking for someone with a genuine passion for the business — its staff, customers, and community. “The numbers matter, but the love has to come first. That’s always been the real secret sauce. When the right person walks through the door, we’ll know,” he said.
The store right now: Several rooms are mid-renovation with a designer overhaul underway, buyers have been sourcing new product for the season, and a full summer events calendar is already posted.
A long line of owners: The Little Traveler has had four owners since Kate Raftery founded it in 1922. Simon's family has owned it since 1971, and he credits that periodic change in ownership with keeping the business alive for more than a century.
One of these days, when the right folks come along who love The Little Traveler as much as I do, we'll pass the torch. I'm 68 years old, fortunate to be in great health, and want to start looking now so I can take the time to find someone I'm confident has the vision to carry the store forward for the next generation to enjoy. We're the fourth set of owners, and each of us has brought something new and fresh. That's why we're here 104 years after the store's founding.
Learn more about the history of The Little Traveler.
Anyone interested in the ownership opportunity can reach Simon at [email protected].
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