The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

In February of 2021, Becky Petrick, a 1992 graduate of Chinook High School, opened a bookstore in a 109 year old home. Many of Butte's long-time residents will recognize the address of The Corner Bookstore at 1877 Harrison Avenue as the Mullen house, one of Butte's historic homes. Petrick explained that this house, which remained a family residence until 1996, was built in 1912 by the Mullen family.

For some time now, Petrick had been looking for a business opportunity that matched her interests. "While I love the grocery business, I needed something that was more fulfilling. Books and reading have always been a passion, and once I found this location, I knew what I wanted to do. If these walls could talk, they would tell many stories about Butte's illustrious past and present."

After graduating from high school, Petrick attended Montana State University-Northern, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in 1996. Even though she had intentions of putting that degree to work, those plans changed.

"I was thinking journalism/publishing and then possibly a masters and a PhD," Petrick said. "But Mom and Dad asked me to go into business with them. We bought the store in Manhattan in 2008, and I am part owners with them at L & F. We had hoped to have the store sold by now since they're ready to retire. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and with the hiring crisis, we are short-handed, and I am currently working double duty. Even though we have a fabulous manager at the grocery store, he needs my help right now."

Petrick has been working in the retail business with her family since she was in high school, first at Tom's IGA in Fort Belknap, followed by Tom and Nancy's Food Farm in Chinook.

Continued on Page A3: Becky Petrick

Their last endeavor has been in Manhattan with L & F Market. "The grocery business has given me the experience I needed to branch out on my own," claims Petrick.

She purchased the Mullen House last September and opened it as The Corner Bookstore on February 12 of this year. "It was a salon in the late 90's and a high end resale store after that but has been empty for about four or five years.

It was a process to get it to where it is now where each room has its own feature and feel. Lots of painting and wallpaper removal happened in those months," Petrick explained.

When asked about the aspects of owning a business that have most surprised her, Petrick responded: "After all these years in retail, I am not sure if there is much that can surprise me anymore. However, I do love how much joy my customers get from buying books, and sometimes, I just sit in a bean bag in the Kids' Room at the store and read a picture book or two. Kids' books soothe my soul. You are never too old to feel the joy of a children's book."

Despite the joys, Petrick reports that the bookstore business comes with challenges: "The greatest challenge I have faced is knowing my customers and what they are interested in reading. Curating a stock that appeals to a broad base of people is challenging. The biggest reward has been meeting so many people that share the same passion as I do."

The Butte bookstore carries more than just books. "Come check out our fun selection of extras," Petrick invites. The Corner Bookstore stocks purses, cards, candles, Colter Coffee Roasting coffees, a broad selection of Lake Missoula Teas, and the tea pots and cups for brewing and serving. The shop also sells various gift ideas, including soaps and lotions from Windrift Hill, which is a Conrad-based producer offering "wholesome, natural goat's milk body care products."

Additionally, Petrick repurposes pages from vintage books to create floral arrangements for sale. Although these flowers that will never wilt are available in several arrangements or singly, Petrick offers to make custom arrangements in a patron's own vase, as well.

Finally, The Corner Bookstore wouldn't be a 'true Butte establishment' without something like Craft Beer Brittle ("Yup, that's right. . . peanut brittle made with beer") and Bloody Mary mix. These two items hail from Bruce Julian Heritage Foods located in Charlotte, North Carolina, which offers "Savory, Sassy and Southern Fare."

Petrick repurposes pages from vintage books to create floral arrangements for sale.

Petrick hopes to keep growing the business for as long as she is able. About business ownership, she shares this advice: "Sometimes you just have to leap. I did not really have a plan to own a bookstore, but I am pleased that I took the chance. It won't always be easy, but if you love what you do, the work will seem easy."

When business isn't monopolizing her time, Petrick plans to travel more. "I love exploring new places," she stated. Until then, she enjoys her daily walks exploring Butte and keeping an "I love where I live" journal.

With two jobs-one that requires a round-trip commute of approximately 133 miles-Petrick's life is both full and hectic. To excuse her tardiness in addressing interview inquiries, she remarked: "I swear my life is a soap opera or some weird dystopian world. Either that or I am a crazy person."

Perhaps Petrick is just living the life described by Jillian Dodd, a best-selling author of contemporary romances who claims that "life is divine chaos."