A look back as Pyramid Office Supply prepares to close its doors
Maan Baki (right) and realtor Gene DeRossett (left) in front of the newly hung “building for sale” sign in the window of Pyramid last Thursday.
Pyramid Office Supply & Emporium has been a fixture on Main Street for 31 years. Owner Maan Baki has decided it is time to retire. As a “for sale” sign now hangs in the front window of the store, his wife, Sybil Kolon, shared the following with us:
Pyramid is one of many store-fronts that line the streets of our small downtown. Each has its story to tell. Here is what we know about this store-front, which we share in hopes that a vibrant past based on a prior era may lead to a sustainable future for everyone who calls Manchester home.
The store was built in the early 1950s by Roscoe Lannom, replacing the former two-story building that had housed a beauty salon and jewelry store. In it, Roscoe opened a Ben Franklin dime store. Later, Sally Marshall took over the business. In 1987 Lannom was ready to sell the building and Marshall had decided to pursue other interests. Maan Baki, who had opened an office supply store on Adrian Street not long before, saw a great opportunity to expand his office supply business.
Pyramid established accounts with many of the industries in town, delivering office supplies as needed. Pyramid also continued providing everyday household items, crafts, office supplies, toys, books and greeting cards to Manchester residents. Services include making copies, UPS shipping and making keys.
In the past several years, Christine Baisden has been assisting Pyramid customers with a smile. She has a large clientele of fans who come to her for advice on knitting and crocheting. She is a key link in the “chain gang,” a group that knits and crochets items for premature babies, cancer patients and veterans. If you have a question or a problem, no matter what it is, Christine is always willing to help.
When Pyramid Office Supply took over the Ben Franklin space in 1987, there were still two hardware stores on Main Street. The Post Office was on Madison Street. Other businesses remaining since 1987 are two banks, the gas station, laundromat, drug store and barbershop. In the last 20 years or so the downtown has lost grocery stores, meat markets, men’s and women’s clothing stores, car dealerships and so much more.
According to Howard Parr, born and raised in Manchester, the two railroads that served the village until the mid-1960s brought in everything by rail and there was little need to go to the city. To take a train to Ann Arbor, you had to go to Jackson or Adrian first and not everyone had a car!
As transportation and society evolved, Manchester’s downtown has tried to adapt. The Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Development Authority and the Village of Manchester have been working to bring new businesses to Manchester. It is a work in progress, and a few empty store fronts remain.
Before we go, we would love to solve a mystery. The sign above the store once had a pyramid on each end of the sign. The pyramids disappeared many years ago. It may have taken months or years to notice. The flat roof is not high in the back and has been inviting to fireworks watchers. Maybe someone fancied the pyramids in their basement. A water color of the Pyramid storefront drawn by Bill Shurtliff, dated 1994, is the best evidence we have of their former existence. Maan would gladly accept one of those pyramids to grace his basement wall, as a memory of many good years serving his Manchester customers. Even an anonymous note from the now-grown offender with the tale of the heist of the pyramids would be treasured.
Maan wants to thank all of his patrons over the years for supporting his business. He intends to remain open during the sale process and appreciates your continued patronage.
We are hopeful the coming change at this location will be a positive one for the community. New opportunities are coming for Manchester, and a new generation will lead the way.
Illustration by Bill Shurtliff, photo courtesy of Maan Baki and Sybil Kolon. Note the pyramids on either side of the sign. Their fate is still a mystery.
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