Bookstore Owner Starts a New Chapter in Great Falls, MT

Courtesy of Cassiopeia Books

Millie Whalen spent three decades as a criminal defense attorney in New York City before making a life-changing decision, one that brought her to Great Falls, MT, and into ownership of one of the city’s most cherished spaces: Cassiopeia Books.

Whalen made the leap in early 2020, finalizing a deal in February of that year, just weeks before the pandemic shut down everything.

When she finally arrived that summer, she stepped into a new business, a new community and a new life. “I love Great Falls,” Whalen says. “It has a small-town feel, and it’s very walkable. There’s a lot that’s really going on in the community.”

Finding a New Path

Whalen wasn’t a stranger to Great Falls before she moved here. She had made frequent visits to see friends, and, during those trips, one stop became a ritual – a beloved used bookstore, originally called the Paperback Jungle and later renamed Cassiopeia Books, where she’d pick up books for the flight home. When the opportunity arose to buy it, she saw a chance for a fresh start.

Courtesy of Cassiopeia Books

“I was getting older, and I thought if I was going to make a change, now is the time to do it,” she says.

Unable to sell her Brooklyn apartment during the city’s lockdown in 2020, Whalen had to delay her move while the bookstore’s previous owner waited patiently to finalize the sale. When she arrived that July, she was juggling two careers at once, rising at 5 a.m. to prep for remote court appearances before opening the store each day.

“I should have known that it was going to be rocky,” she says.

The bookstore also lost its original lease, forcing Whalen to find a new space. But the move turned out to be a blessing. “Everybody comes in and it’s like, ‘Oh, wow, this is so much better.’ It’s a dream,” she says.

Making It Her Own

Rather than reinvent the bookstore, Whalen focused on maintaining what made it special. Cassiopeia Books operates on a hybrid model of new and used inventory, with locals contributing books. “It makes it a real reflection of what the community likes to read,” she says.

That community connection has also fueled some of her richest experiences. She’s had talks about books she never would have discovered in NYC, including the deep well of Montana literature.

“I just get to have really interesting conversations about all sorts of different kinds of books,” Whalen says. “Montana authors are so important, in my opinion, to the American literary scene.”

Embracing the Lifestyle

The contrast between Brooklyn and Great Falls is striking, but for Whalen, it’s been overwhelmingly positive. She points to the region’s natural beauty, including the prairies, the Missouri River and the nearby mountains, as a major draw. She also highlights a surprisingly rich cultural calendar of symphony performances, Broadway touring shows and community theater.

Courtesy of Cassiopeia Books

“People used to say, ‘Oh, nothing happens,’ but actually, there’s usually two or three events competing,” she says.

When it comes to local favorites, Whalen doesn’t hesitate on lunch. Fire, a downtown spot serving wood-fired pizza, is her go-to. She also raves about Great Falls’ distinct, independently owned coffee shops, each with its own vibe. And for something truly unexpected, she points visitors to the Sip n Dip Tiki Lounge, a bar at the O’Haire Motor Inn famous for its mermaid tank.

For anyone passing through on the way to Glacier or Yellowstone, Whalen has simple advice: Drop by, explore and come visit her at Cassiopeia Books. “Stop off and pay us a visit,” she says. “It’s a nice little community.”