Life is Good at JB Goods ~story and photos by Paige Langender
J
Owners Josh and Jake Patrick at the North Van Buren Street location.
ake and Josh Patrick look forward to Brown County’s busy season every year. This year, however, has been the most challenging season yet. Their father and business partner, Mike Patrick, died in May and this is their first busy season without him. “I knew it was going to be hard, but it’s even harder than I expected,” Jake said. “Not only do we miss him, but a lot of people don’t know that he passed away, so we end up telling the story multiple times a day and reliving that pain.” In addition to the grief, the workload has increased significantly for the two brothers who own and operate the two J.B. Goods Life is Good stores in Nashville, along with two employees. “We are wearing a lot of hats these days,” Josh said. “But dad taught us a lot and we hope to continue his legacy.”
48 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2019
The most important thing their dad taught them, Josh said, was about work ethic. “He worked hard and taught us to work hard too,” he said. “He also taught us how to have fun with the customers and help them find what they need. He really was retail magic.” Mike also served for many years as a board member and a leader of the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau, initiating some significant changes in advertising and visitor services. Jake, Josh, and their dad opened their first Nashville business in 2000. It was an outdoor retail store called Hilltop Hiking Company. They sold Life is Good merchandise, along with several other product lines. “Life is Good was our best selling line,” Jake said. “And we really liked the outdoor focus and the simplicity and positive messages the company featured on the products.”
