Hometown Hillsdale: Patti Foust Bailey, ’87
Written by Stephanie Gordon
Maybe she has greeted you with a smile at her boutique in downtown Hillsdale or maybe you’ve listened to her sing memorable tunes from years past. However you may know her, she’s a familiar and active member in Hillsdale’s community. Born and raised in Hillsdale, Michigan, she’s Patti Foust Bailey, ’87.
Patti has owned Maggie Anne’s Shoppe, a women’s clothing boutique and gift store, in downtown Hillsdale for nearly 30 years. She sings soprano alongside Susan Cervini and Ginger Moore in the local a cappella trio, The Unforgettables. She’s also a member of the College’s Women Commissioners group. Most importantly, she is wife to local CPA Greg Bailey, ’89, mom to Megan, Ryan, and daughter-in-law, Sabrina, and “Mimi” to her new granddaughter, Lily.
“I was born and raised right here in Hillsdale,” said Patti. “After graduating from Hillsdale High School in 1983, I marched right up the hill with a handful of other graduating seniors from my class.”
She majored in marketing and minored in communications and treasured her four years as a Chi Omega. She fondly remembers her favorite professor, Parke Hayes. “He taught a communications class and he taught me all I know about writing and recording my own advertisements,” Patti said.
Patti met Greg, who also grew up in Hillsdale County, during her sophomore year in the play Grease at the Sauk Theatre in Jonesville, Michigan. “I played Sandy,” she smiled. “Although I wasn’t sure about Greg at first, my mom, who was a switchboard operator at the College, said I should really give him a chance.”
It was a note left by Greg in the Collegian that caught Patti’s eye. Patti explained that students were once able to publish notes in the Collegian to seniors. “Greg put a note in to ‘Sandy’ wishing her good luck with the rest of her future and signed it as his character name. Nobody really knew anything except for me, so that triggered me to call him, but he was actually on a date with somebody else,” Patti laughed. “He ended up calling me back, and the rest is history.”
Upon graduating, Patti had to choose between job offers at two department store chains: Nordstrom in Los Angeles, California, and Jacobson’s in Jackson, Michigan. Patti started right away in Jacobson’s Management Training program. “During that training year, I worked in every department from the warehouse and accounting, to displays and buying offices,” said Patti. “Little did I know at the time, it’s what laid the groundwork for me owning my own store in the future.”
After completing her training, she was placed in Sweets and Treats, Stationery and Electronics in Dearborn, Michigan, as a department manager. She was there for a year when she accepted a position in Jacobson’s buying offices as an assistant buyer for the 7-14 girls department, and quickly became a buyer for the preteen department.
Patti and Greg married in 1989, and they welcomed their first child, Megan, in 1994. After Megan was born, Patti made the decision to stay home, but soon purchased Maggie Anne’s in Hillsdale in 1995 with a business partner. “I had previously thought I would open a children’s store someday, but I knew Maggie Anne’s was established, so I talked with another gal that was interested in retail, and we bought Maggie Anne’s. I bought her out 10 years later.”
According to Patti, owning a business in a small town is “fabulous.” “You would not believe the people and the distance they come to seek out small businesses, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. It changed the way people do business. My customers come to Maggie Anne’s to find unique products and they say ‘it’s a wonderful gem in a small community.’”
Patti expanded Maggie Anne’s in 2016, and knew she wanted to carry Michigan product lines —Michigan Awesome from Holland, Fireside Coffee from Swartz Creek, and My Captured Journey jewelry from Traverse City have all been successful sellers. Some of her favorite and top-selling lines are Brighton jewelry and handbags, Vera Bradley, Tribal Clothing, Aventura, Clara Sunwoo, and Jag. “We offer unique boutique brands that you won’t find in department stores,” added Patti. “I love our clothing brands—updated, yet traditional styles customers can keep in their closets for years!”
“Hillsdale is a great place to raise a family,” added Patti. “We are in a fortunate little bubble.”
Her daughter Megan lives in Hillsdale, works for the College, and is getting married this November. Her son Ryan and daughter-in-law Sabrina live in Fortville, Indiana, and they recently welcomed their first child, Lily.
“When I graduated from Hillsdale, I thought I would move to a big city, but I am so glad I stayed here,” Patti concluded. “My husband and I love the small town, the community, and attending events at the College. My family is here (or at least within driving distance) and Hillsdale is home!”
Stephanie Gordon, a lifelong Hillsdale native, is the managing editor of Hillsdale College’s Student Stories Blog. She is married to chiropractor, Dr. Matt Gordon, and has three children – Eloise, Flora, and Jack. When she has a spare moment, she enjoys paleo baking, floating on Baw Beese Lake, and breaking a sweat at the gym.
Published in August 2023