Andrew Nosal has owned The Map Center since 1981.

Keeping an old fashioned store is a healthy way for a shy but opinionated person to enjoy frequent, friendly interaction with diverse strangers.  Customers are generally easy to read as to whether they want a brisk, get it and get out experience, or something more.  When the conversation, not necessarily about maps, expands to where I think the visitor might care what I really think, I don’t hold back.  This risks alienating some customers but I like to think that I can usually sense the safe measure of crankiness.

The unseen audience however necessitates caution.  For the full crusty map guy experience, you will have to visit the store.