I always wanted to open a retail store. My children tease me that my family didn't play store with me enough when I was a child. In 2003, I had the very good fortune to play the role of Barbara Ehrenreich in the stage adaptation of her book, "Nickel and Dimed: On ( Not) Getting By in America" at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. While researching and rehearsing for the play, I realized that most of our manufacturing had gone offshore. I knew that we had lost a lot of manufacturing to China, but I hadn't realized how much and that most of our consumer goods had left along with the jobs that employed so many Americans. I needed to do something positive, so I started researching what goods were still made in America and I kept a list. Then one day as I was driving through Barrington, I saw that my favorite building, an old livery barn, was for sale and as they say, the rest is history! It took me six months to get the building cleaned and fixed up and on June 13th, 2007 I opened the door to Norton's U.S.A., A Uniquely American General Store. I named the store after my dog Norton because he was so unique and I knew he wouldn't be with me much longer. Here's a picture of Norton and me just before we opened. Norton was a true hollywood dog and a best friend.
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