BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Luke Lindsley was sick of running out of paper in his downtown office and having to drive more than a mile to get a pack of gum or Advil, so he built his own convenience store.
In November, Lindsley, 54, opened Happi's Downtown Convenience, located inside the Heritage Tower, according to The Battle Creek Enquirer. It is the only c-store downtown, the report said, selling everything from candy, magazines, office supplies and cigarettes to fresh made hot chocolate, coffee, pastries and hot dogs.
But Lindsley's [image-nocss] store is different than most c-storesall profits from everything sold in the store go to a good cause.
Lindsley, who quit working in 2001 after a back surgery left him disabled, is the executive director of the Habitat for Animal & Plant Preservation Inc. (HAPPI). Happi is a Battle Creek, Mich.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife preservation and education. HAPPI's main office also is located inside the Heritage Tower.
All profits raised from the store will benefit wildlife education programs for HAPPI, which is associated with Leila Arboretum and the National Wildlife Federation.
When deciding to open the store, I thought of all the times that it would be convenient for me to have a store downtown, like Kalamazoo; they have two convenience stores downtown, Lindsley told the newspaper. So I sent out a survey to other downtown businesses and their responses showed me that there was a big need.
Happi's carries the basicscold pop and juices, birthday cards, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products and some small grocery items.
Lindsley runs the store with the help of HAPPI volunteer Donnie Jackson, and said he hopes to move the store into a larger location on the ground floor of the Heritage Tower in mid-April, where he plans to add more inventory and hot lunch items.
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