Mr. Jestila's paternal grandparents on both sides have lived in the Traprock Valley area since the 1890's. His great grandfather's brother owned a saloon at 301 Quincy, Hancock from 1905 up to the 1920's when prohibition ended the (legal) saloon trade. He then CO-founded Payne's and Jestila, a News Agency of Hancock, Michigan in 1924 with Joe Payne, before leaving the area.

Mr. Jestila's maternal family has been in the United States for over 200 years. Her parents owned a gas station in L'Anse from 1932 up to 1942 when they moved to Detroit during World War II.

From 1985 untill 1988 Mr. Jestila's mother owned the Sears Catalog Store in L'Anse Michigan.

Mr. Jestila is single, has no plans to ever get married, his wife, his life is the store All of his bad habits and hobbies such as books, movies, music and travel are written off the store, leaving almost no personal after tax expenses.

L'Anse High School 1972 - 1984: Graduated 3rd in class; honors for 6 years straight; High School Bowl

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1984 - 1988: Michigan Competitive Scholarships; Regent Scholarships; 2 Sociological Writing Award Nominations; School of Literature, Science and Arts; Dual major in History and Political Science.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1988 - 1989: School of Education; 2nd person ever to enroll in dual baccalaureate program with L. S. & A.; graduated with honors; Triple major in History, Political Science and Social Science; Secondary Education Degree; Qualified to teach the following subjects: American History, Russian History, Chinese History, Modern History, Comparative History, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Civics, Government, Political Science, International Relations, Current Affairs, Anthropology, Ancient Civilizations, Military History.

Mr. Jestila's Business Career:

• 1982 At 16 years old Mr. Jestila purchases a rental cabin and has it hauled to his father's land.
• 1986 Second year of college, Mr. Jestilla opens a used book exchange similar to the ones in Ann Arbor Michigan, in the backroom of his mother's Sears Catalog Store on 3 North Main Street, L'Anse Mi. Opens with 2,000 book inventory.
• 1988 Backroom of L'Anse closes, 10,000 book inventory.
• 1989 July, Backroom opens at 3rd and Division Street in Baraga.
• 1989 Sept., Backroom 314 Quincy, Hancock opens with 15,000 book inventory.
• 1989 Nov. Backroom of Baraga closes.
• 1990 Mr. Jestila buys 530 Hancock Street rental property.
• 1991 Mr. Jestilla purchases 20 acres from his father's estate.
• 1991 Sept, Mr Jestila purchases Payne's News Agency of 312 Quincy, Hancock, from Joe Payne's nephews, not realizing his great grandfather helped found the firm.
• 1991 Dec. Inventory swells to 50,000 books.
• 1992 Mr. Jestila purchases 106 West Douglass and 1317 Emery
• 1992 Cross fertilization of Payne's News and Backroom Bookstore and the addition of new product lines yields a 50% increase in sales and massive publicity resulting from fascist knee-jerk reaction of the local "authorties".
• 1992 Aug, Backroom Bargains of US-41 South, L'Anse reopens.
• 1993 Used compact disc's, video games and video rentals introduced.
• 1993 July, Consolidated inventory increases 205% in one year, sales increase 116%.
• 1994 Purchase of 215 South Front Street in Marquette, Michigan.
• 1995 1st musical performance in basement of Backroom Obsessions in Marquette
• 1995 October, Purchase of 109 Sheldon Ave, Houghton for Headquarters.
• 1996 March, opening of all three floors of 109 Sheldon Ave.
• 1997 Dec., Sold Backroom Bargains in L'Anse, Mi to its manager at the time.
• 1998 Closed 312 Quincy, Hancock, consolidated into 314 Quincy, Hancock.
• 1999 Closing of Payne's News Hancock as a result of numerous anti-trust violations by Chas. Levy-badger Circulating Company, not to be reopened until its 80th anniversery in 2004 at which time Mr. Jestila will have 4-5 retail operations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This matter is still under investigation by the US Justice Department's Anti-Trust Division.
• 2000 Massive Building of inventory reserves for imminent store launches.