Ann Arbor native to bring Life is Good store to Main St.

Saline Spanish teacher Mark Messmore took an indirect route into the clothing retail business, but the downtown Ann Arbor resident and business owner will have a pretty direct path from his loft to the new Life is Good shop he's opening below it. After his computer consultation business, MMSC Consultants started veering into retail, he got the bug to get deeper into the business, which led him to the Life is Good franchise. 

 

"Life is Good is a good fit for me because the brand focuses on the power of optimism," says Messmore. "The power of optimism is limitless; that message resonates with me, and I believe it represents the Ann Arbor community well."

 

Messmore also believes the merchandise will appeal to the Ann Arbor market with it's wide range of clothing meant for everyone from outdoorsy folks to businesspeople. The Life is Good Store will open in a portion of Seyfried Jewelers' former home, a neighborhood close to the local Messmore's heart. 

 

"Certainly, I am sad to see Seyfried Jewelers leave," he says. "My mom went to high school and was best friends with Pam Seyfried, and they spent their weekends and holiday vacations in the back room of Seyfried Jewelers wrapping presents and helping at the store some 40 years ago."

 

Messmore will take control of the 900 square foot Main St. space on Jan. 1 and hopes to be open for business in March.