CADILLAC, MI -- Meauwataka General Store is a blink-and-you-miss-it type spot when you’re cruising Up North. On a map, it looks like you fell into the midst of the Huron-Manistee National Forest. It’s got a humble storefront that hasn’t changed much in its 85 years.

If you take the time to pull off at the red sign on top of the hill, you’ll find it’s a haven of local treasures.

Namely, an unexpectedly expansive bourbon collection spanning hundreds of bottles.

Owners Pam and Ken Sandy took over Cadillac’s local store in 2020 after it sat on the market for years. They both came from a long career in small businesses, from barber shops to powder coating and steel fabrication.

Although wildly different from scooping ice cream, stocking snacks and selling souvenirs, those small business exp

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