New Clothing Store Opens on Main Street
By Eric Fish

Managers Faith and Michael Gaubault stand at the checkout counter at the Shirt Off My Back clothing store. Shirt Off My Back opened for its first year of business on Mackinac Island May 11.

There's a new kind of clothing store on Mackinac Island's Main Street, nestled on each side of the Murray Hotel. The store, Shirt Off My Back, which opened for its inaugural year on the Island May 11, features a little bit of everything for the visitor.

Aside from witty, creative slogans lining the fronts and backs of many shirts, the shop includes Mackinac Island apparel and a separate ladies store specializing in female resort wear.

"We have a sense of humor," said Faith Gaubault, who comanages the store with her husband, Michael. "You can have a sense of humor and sell Tshirts."

The Gaubaults know this from their company's history.

Patrick Somers, owner of Retco, Inc., has similar stores in Colorado and Wyoming and now has expanded his business as far east as Mackinac Island.

The Gaubaults have been with Retco for four years and each managed their own yeararound store in Wyoming prior to the opening of Mackinac Island's Shirt Off My Back.

As a native of St. Ignace, Mrs. Gaubault has a special place in her heart for the Mackinac Island area. She met Mr. Gaubault, originally from Jamaica, on the Island, was married on the Island, and now is working on the Island with her husband.

"I'm excited," she said. "It's comfortable, it's what you know, it's home. I don't know if anyone can really describe what it's like to be home, but we were both very excited to come. It's a lot of fun."

Not only is it nice for Mrs. Gaubault to be home and close to family, but it gives her the opportunity to rear their ninemonth old son, Michael Jr. (MJ), on familiar grounds.

"Anytime you go back home to work, it's a good thing," she said.

In Wyoming, much of the business was conducted in the summer, she notes, but here, all of the Gaubaults' business will be done in the summer.

"Besides the obvious ferry boat and bicycles, you have to do all of your business in six months," Mrs. Gaubault said. "Your work here is a lot more condensed."

With the help of eight additional staff workers, the Gaubaults are keeping store hours from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. When tourist season picks up, they expect to extend the evening hours to 11 p.m.

"Right now we're working seven days a week," Mrs. Gaubault said. "We come on the first boat and leave on the last one."