Sleepy Dog Books, Mt. Pleasant MI

Norther Initiatives Customer Stories
April 27, 2022
Riley and Jennifer Justis had always dreamed of owning a bookstore. The pandemic gave them more time to dream. And plan. And make it happen.
When they decided to go for it, the couple’s first call was to the Small Business Administration, where they were paired with John Bunch, a Management faculty member at Central Michigan University and a consultant for the Small Business Development Center.
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Locally-owned bookstore coming to Mt. Pleasant

Husband and wife Riley and Jennifer Justis hope to promote literature in Mt. Pleasant with their new business, Sleepy Dog Books.
“We’ve always dreamt of opening a bookstore and Mt. Pleasant, surprisingly, doesn’t have one yet for being a local small-town,” Riley Justis says. “Mt. Pleasant is considered a book desert and this is an opportunity for us to change the nature of literacy in the community.”
Riley and Jennifer are both Central Michigan University alum with backgrounds in education. Jennifer has a particular interest in literature with a focus on its impact on students. The Justis family has taught in both Alaska and Michigan schools. They currently live in Mt. Pleasant with their two kids and dogs. Read More...

Incoming Mount Pleasant book store wins $1,000 grant.

CM Life
October 20th, 2021
Mount Pleasant couple and business owners Jennifer and Riley Justis won a $1,000 grant for their incoming local business Sleepy Dog Books.
The Justis family are passionate about helping kids of all ages learn to read, Jennifer and Riley hope to use their experience as elementary school teachers and as parents to create an environment for learning about literature.
​“It’s been so important to us to focus on books with our own children so we’ve always had lots of books in our home,” Riley said. Read More...

Sleepy Dog Books, Third Place in 53 Voice Challenge

Morning Sun
​October 19th, 2021
Three female entrepreneurs have been selected as the winners of Michigan Women Forward’s (MWF) 53 Voices pitch challenge sponsored by Fifth Third Bank.
MWF is a community development organization with the mission to expand economic opportunity, empower the next generation, and celebrate and honor the accomplishments of Michigan women.
Each finalist for the pitch challenge submitted a 53-second video outlining their idea and completed three Michigan Women Forward entrepreneur education training workshops. Read More...

Mt. Pleasant bookstore announced as Michigan Pitch Challenge finalist

Morning Sun
​October 7th, 2021
Michigan Women Forward recently announced the Top 10 finalists for its 53 Voices pitch challenge, a competitive program awarding funds to women entrepreneurs launching businesses that contribute meaningfully to their communities.
​Among the finalists is Jennifer Justis from Mt. Pleasant who, along with her husband Riley, has founded Sleepy Dog Books, a boutique bookstore opening its doors in downtown Mt. Pleasant in the spring of 2022. Read More...