Two word-of-mouth referrals, 26 years apart, began and ended the legacy of the couple who owned Mirabai of Woodstock, the spiritual and metaphysical bookstore that anchors Mill Hill Road.
Saugerties residents Audrey Cusson and Jeff Cuiule bought the store in 2000 after learning about it from their couples counselor. In May, Cusson’s New York City roommate from 40 years ago introduced her to Los Angeles resident Angela Bole, the woman who on Sept. 29 became the new owner of Mirabai.
“We feel it’s time to pass the torch,” said Cuiule, 64.
Cusson, who is 65, and Cuiule largely maintained the trajectory of the shop, which opened in 1987, while adding their own stamp. It sells a range of books as well as crystals, jewelry, statues, scents and energy sprays.
“There’s a ton of opportunity,” said Bole, 49.
As Cusson and Cuiule gear up for retirement, they’re confident that Bole will maintain the store’s identity while adding her own flair. Bole said she anticipates a “refresh” of the store, possibly launching events that include a book club and readings.
Bole, a former New York City resident who often visited Woodstock and shopped at Mirabai, has more than two decades of experience in publishing. She’s yearned for years to own an independent bookstore.
“I’ve kind of talked about it ad nauseum for my entire life,” she said. “It’s a culmination of a lot of things I’ve always wanted to do so I’m super-excited.”
The path Cusson and Cuiule took to Woodstock began when they lived in New York City and were working to navigate their relationship as careers pulled them apart. They were undergoing couples therapy with Ray Bergen, a counselor who split his time between the Big Apple and Saugerties.
As the counseling wound down, the couple realized they wanted to co-own a business.
During their final session, the conversation turned to Wet Behind the Ears, their concept for a dog-washing business that had stalled due to Manhattan’s high cost of real estate.
With Bergen guiding the discussion, Cusson and Cuiule began brainstorming new options. They came up with a plan for a book store in a small mountain town close enough to the city for visits. They would live above the shop and find the meaning in life that they were lacking.
Cuiule could see Bergen, pondering. “You could see the lightbulb go off above Ray’s head,” he said.
Bergen knew that a bookstore in Woodstock, a favorite of his, was for sale. He put Cuiule and Cusson in touch with the owners, and a few weeks later they had a handshake deal to purchase Mirabai. And yes indeed, early on they lived above the shop.
A similar set of circumstances began to unfold a year ago, when Cusson’s former roommate, the publisher of Patagonia Books, paid a visit with her husband,
Cusson and Cuiule shared their plans for retirement. In May, Cusson asked her friend to put out feelers in the industry for the sale of a Mirabai-like book store. Two days later, Cusson’s friend introduced her to Bole, setting the stage for last week’s closing.
After a quarter-century building a customer base that included the actor Ben Vereen and author Eckhart Tolle, Cuiule and Cusson are leaving Woodstock and headed for New Hampshire. They’ve long held a fondness for New England.
Bole, with the support of Mirabai’s three employees, will take the helm of the store on Oct. 19. She plans to welcome customers during a meet-and-greet on Oct. 24 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Cuiule and Cusson will be on hand through the holidays to help ease the transition.
“We’re retiring our tenure here at Mirabai for the next phase of our life,” Cusson said.
John W. Barry is a reporter for The Overlook. Reach him at john@theoverlooknews.com.
