In early 2023 GIS analyst and cartographer Andrew Middleton saw a tweet about Andy Rosal’s search for someone to take over The Map Center, his map shop in Pawtucket, RI; six months later Middleton left California to move into one of the last map retail stores in the U.S. We discuss his goal of turning the shop into an inviting retail space and field trip destination, inciting new maps of New England with cartographic challenges, making space for local and expressive maps, and summing it all up with “This is a thing I get to do with my life; how amazing is that?” Bonus: former owner Andy Rosal joins us to drop pearls of retail wisdom and confirm that Andrew has the “irrational drive in the right direction” needed for this biz. Next time you're in Pawtucket drop by mapcenter.com

@themapcenter on IG
Anne Hall Antique Prints
Muncie Map Company
Schein & Schein
The Map Shop
City Maps coloring book by Gretchen Peterson
Landforms of the United States by Erwin Raisz
Maps by Great Swamp Press
Lay O’ The Land Rhode Island map by Legend Bicycles
RI map embroidery kit by Savory Stitch
All Mapped Out coasters
All Over the Map by Betsy Mason & Greg Miller
Hugg-A-Planet Globe Pillows

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