By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
Traci Richards is an avid reader and gamer. Not the modern term that references those who like to play video games. She likes old school games that involve a board, fake money, playing cards or ones that make you think.
Richards was searching for a career change, so the third-generation Lakesider is ready to roll the dice and start a new chapter in her life.
Richards is opening Millie Magoo’s in the former Wall-Nut antique store on Walnut Plaza, between Marilyn’s and Maxwell’s Hospitality House. She will pack Lakeside’s only two-floor store with books; games, including all things Mahjongg; puzzles for all ages, including some that are Lakeside-themed; limited art supplies and some outdoor recreation equipment.
It will be filled with things Richards did as a child, and still does, like countless hours playing Euchre, and other card games and all sorts of board games, including the Kiwi Peg Game. Richards and her best friend growing up had week-long Monopoly games and solved puzzles in a day. She still has all the Scrabble scoresheets from games played with her mother and grandmother.
“Growing up there were two closets in the hallway outside our bedrooms,” Richards said. “One was the linen closet, and the other was this magical space filled with nothing but children’s books and games. On days when I was bored, I’d go upstairs and sit in front of that closet, pull book after book out and play all of the games I could that were solitaire in nature.”
Lakesiders will still have a place to go to purchase books. When approached by former Fine Print owner Lisa Maharry, Richards agreed to move all the books about a half block to Millie Magoo’s. She will have books for all ages and will have a supply written by keynote speakers and Preachers of the Week who will be visiting Lakeside this summer.
“Owning a bookstore has been something I always wanted to do, but it wasn’t part of my original plan,” Richards said. “I did a little research, and Lakeside has had a bookstore on its grounds since 1881, except for one year. It’s extremely important to have a bookstore in Lakeside. We’re trying to keep all the books downstairs as best as possible, so the people who are used to being able to shop for a book can still come in and look for one.”
Kids’ Programs
Richards will continue some of Lakesider youths’ favorite activities. Stuffie Sleepovers will again be Monday nights. It will move from the Rhein Center to Millie Magoo’s, where you can also RSVP. There will be a $5 charge for each stuffie.
“It’s going to be what they’ve come to know and expect,” Richards said. “We have some fun things in store. I think that there’s going to be some mischief that’s going to need managed.”
Storytime will be back. It will be held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Chautauqua Hall in June and the Upper Pavilion Room in July and August.
Richards is bringing back the youth Chautauqua Literary & Scientific Circle (CLSC) program. Kids will have to read 16 books from the historic book list, which is available free of charge at the store. Any child who completes all 16 books can drop off their list of completed books at the store. After Richards checks it, they’ll get a medallion. She’ll send all of them off to Chautauqua New York for further recognition.
What’s in a name?
Richards came up with a catchy name for her business. How did it come about? At a young age, her cousin could not pronounce grandmother or grandma, so she came up with the nickname “Magoo.”
Everybody in the family started calling her that, and it sticks to this day. Richards was sleeping when she came up with the first name in the store’s title.
“Millie actually came to me in a dream,” Richards said. “But it’s also the name of the frog that has sat in front of the store for the past 15 years.”
Richards’ Background
Richards, a native of Ravenna, Ohio, started coming to Lakeside as an infant. The family rented many different cottages over the years for their one- or two-week stays.
Her grandfather (“Magoo’s” husband) was an insurance salesperson and invited his clients to Lakeside to go fishing on his Lyman boat. She’s proud to be the first in her family to work, spend an entire summer and own a home in Lakeside. She’s now adding business owner to the list.
A couple of weeks of summer in Lakeside wasn’t enough for Richards. Staying for the entire season was always something she wanted to do, and she got the opportunity to do that while she was a student at Ohio State.
In 1991, Richards and her friend Joy Althouse worked for Keith Addy on the Programming Team. Richards’ responsibilities were guest services and Hoover entertainment. She also delivered Lakesider newspapers with Althouse.
“Joy and I like to joke that we spearheaded the internship program here because we were the first two interns,” Richards said. “It was awesome.”
Richards relocated to Northern Virginia after graduation and went on to have an impressive 30-year career in healthcare and as a nonprofit management executive and consultant. She is the co-founder of 100 Who Care Alliance, the largest giving circle network in world focusing on women in philanthropy, and 100 Caring Hearts of Ottawa County.
“When I moved to Lakeside full time, I intended to start a circle here and discovered others were in the process of doing so as well,” Richards said. “We joined forces and formed 100 Caring Hearts of Ottawa County. We already have over 100 members, as the number 100 is aspirational, and we have room for more.”
Richards said her “life drastically changed in 2020,” and she moved into her Lakeside cottage in 2021. She thought about a career change but wanted it to be something fun that brought joy to herself and other people.
Richards and her partner, Dan Dubinsky, are the organizers for Euchre night during Lakeside’s shoulder season, which has a loyal following. She has five friends who meet twice a week by Zoom, once to play trivia and the other just to chat and play other online games like Semantle and Spelling Bee.
Open for business
The Wall-Nut building underwent renovations for most of the winter. Among the improvements are new electric, insulation, HVAC, ceilings, new and refurbished flooring and painting.
Richards had a soft launch opening for Lakeside’s Easter Eggstravaganza weekend and is open Thursday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in May. The hours will change when the Chautauqua season begins. She said there won’t be a full inventory until the summer, but there will be fun items in stock.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 30, the same day Lakeside author Brenda Haas debuts her first novel, Finding Sullivan’s Choice.
Richards looks forward to writing her new chapter. To her, there isn’t a better place than Lakeside to do that.
“Lakeside is a special place because of the people,” Richards said. “There’s a wonderful energy here that you just can’t find anywhere else. Dan and I can’t think of a better place to be!”
