Postcard of Verne’s Emporium. Photo by Verne Hutchinson.
By Nikki Schneider
For nearly 17 years, 1969-1986, Verne’s Emporium in Onekama was said to be the most unique drugstore in Michigan, if not the country. The building at 4850 Main Street, known as Knuth’s Drugstore Building, was constructed sometime prior to 1895, according to an insurance map referenced by Tom Gerhardt, University of Michigan. An addition was built later. As a drugstore, it had various owners ⸺ Knuths, Ellises, Ensigns ⸺ before Verne Hutchinson carried on that tradition. He was a pharmaceutical student in the days when capsules and ointments were mixed on the premises.
In addition to pharmaceuticals, Verne’s Emporium carried everything from silk fans, ice picks, ice cleats and hula skirts to fountain pens, hair tonic and corks in nine sizes. Reportedly, Easter and Christmas candy could be found at any time of year.
Verne also loved collecting antiques ⸺ music boxes, arcade games and World War II flags. The sign on the building read, “Looking for an Unusual Store? Look No Further!”
Although every inch of space was filled with thousands of items, the store’s owners claimed they could find 99% of them within minutes. “If we get a call for an item, we’ll stock it,” Verne was quoted as saying. Shopping there was said to be an “adventure” and “fun.”
I recently spoke to Holly Milks, Verne’s daughter.
“He proudly opened his store 365 days a year, so that people could have their ‘needs’ (beer, liquor, a gallon of milk, newspaper, etc.) available to them, even on the holidays,” Milks said.
Every nook and cranny prompts a Verne’s story.
Karen Kolb and I signed a lease for the west portion of the building in 2019. The space had a great history and vibe. All our treasures for Patina, our gallery of repurposed household and decorative items, seemed to naturally fit.
Customers share their stories with us, or we overhear them telling their kids as they’re shopping, “This is where the comic books were,” and “I used to come in with my parents every summer for (fill in the blank) and get candy from over there.” An older couple told me they still have the wine bottle they bought at Verne’s right before they got engaged. Because we love old things, we naturally love the old stories that go with them. The building included.
Like Verne, if we are asked for an item we will search our backroom and our off-site storage locations. If we don’t have something, we surely know who does. A customer asked me for an old bedspring for an art project. I located one for her in minutes from my local metal recycling guy.
Our customers come to our shop to have fun and we love that. Even the fellas sometimes skip the hardware store across the street to hang out.
A couple months ago, a grandmother, mother and daughter browsed for over an hour. They reminisced and brainstormed ideas about how to repurpose an old piece. We like when that happens. They each purchased something before they left.
Most of America shops online now and in big box stores. We are happy our customers use all their senses and imaginations when they visit us. It is magical and inspiring to listen to their conversations. It gives us energy and motivation to keep finding more unusual things. Patina is a place where people tend to linger, chat (in person!), connect with neighbors, make new friends and share ideas.
We proudly continue Verne’s tradition of making the discovery of an unexpected “find” a fun adventure.
Verne used to place a barrel on the sidewalk to let folks know he was open. When you see our barrel propping the door open, venture inside … you never know what you might discover.
