They're Selling CONNECTION and books and groceries

In this episode of The Woven Record, we explore the powerful role small businesses play in strengthening community bonds. Meet Ryan Schmidt, a high school teacher and first-year owner of NP Junction Bookstore in Carlton, Minnesota, housed in a beautifully restored 1917 bank building that once served as the heart of the original Northern Pacific Junction. Ryan shares how his bookstore has become a community gathering space for book clubs, history groups, and local connections—honoring his father's legacy while revitalizing downtown Carlton.

We also sit down with George, the third or fourth-generation owner of Mocols grocery store in Mankato, which has been serving the neighborhood for 108 years. George reveals how his family's Lebanese immigrant heritage shaped a business built on genuine human connection, fresh-cut meats, and the kind of personal relationships that have become increasingly rare in our digital age. From serving multiple generations of families to becoming a destination for visitors seeking authentic community experiences, Mocols represents the last of a dying breed—the neighborhood grocery store.

Both business owners emphasize a crucial truth: in an increasingly isolated world, these local gathering spaces provide more than products—they offer human connection, trust, and a sense of belonging. Whether it's the vault-turned-children's-section in the bookstore or the famous Mocols meat counter, these businesses prove that community thrives when we prioritize relationships over convenience. This is what The Woven Record is all about—rebuilding the connections that make neighborhoods feel like home.