In the winter of 1988, Clyde Van Dusen, the patriarch of the Van Dusen family and original owner of Clyde's Drive In in Sault Ste Marie, Manistique, and St. Ignace Michigan, spoke with a friend about taking over his shoe business, "Highstone's Topsider Place", on Mackinac Island. Clyde thought it might be a good business for his 9 kids and seemed easier than the restaurant business, so in the Spring of 1988, all 9 of his children formed a company called Clyde's Kids Inc. The shoe store was converted to a more expansive gift shop, selling t-shirts, sweatshirts, and many trinkets and gift items for the popular tourist seekers.
We knew as time passed, the "kids" would scatter around the country {and world for son Dale!) and this company provided a reason for all of us to join together twice a year ... once always for Clyde's birthday in St. Ignace during the summer {continuing even after he passed away in 2019) and somewhere else in the country in the winter. The business has now expanded to 6 gift shops, 3 on Mackinac Island, 2 in St. Ignace, and 1 in Mackinaw City. Clyde's son Greg served as the first store manager and still manages all the Island stores and does the buying for all stores. Daughter Jill was the company President and bookkeeper when it started, and recently returned to Michigan to help manage the mainland stores. Youngest son Steve is now the company President, and all nine of Clyde's children {not quite kids now!) still serve on the board of directors for the company.
As the business has expanded, so has Clyde's family. The "kids", their spouses, children, and grandchildren now number 53.5! Semi-annual board meetings are still held where a vast majority of the family attends. An American family business at its best!