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From Shopper to Shop Owner: My Journey to Lark

December 2024, while Christmas shopping for my sister at Lark’s original location, I noticed something unexpected—the store seemed to be closing. At the time, Lark had been owned by Susie Woodward for five years, and as we chatted, I learned she was planning to retire at the end of March 2025.

Having recently retired from my corporate career and long dreamed of owning a business of my own, I went home that very day, did a quick Google search, and sent a hopeful email to Susie asking, “If you’re closing, would you consider selling?” To my surprise, she responded within 24 hours—and within a month, I was the new owner of Lark.

Because the original lease had ended, we relocated the store to our current downtown Grand Haven space at 220 Washington Ave. —quite literally rolling carts of merchandise down the sidewalk. One of the greatest blessings was that Susie’s entire team came with me. Their talent, experience, and genuine care for our customers have been invaluable, and I’m grateful to each one of them. Susie herself has also remained involved, ensuring a smooth transition and helping us retain our exclusive proprietary brands.

Owning Lark in Grand Haven feels like the perfect fit. I’ve always loved this community—the friendly atmosphere, the walkable downtown, the small-town charm with a vibrant energy. Since moving in, other local business owners have been incredibly welcoming, offering advice, connections, and even a helping hand during our transition.

It truly feels meant to be—a “God thing” that fell into place exactly as it should have. I’m thankful every day to be part of this community and excited for what’s ahead for Lark.

—Jodi Timmerman, Owner of Lark