The Alex MacKay Building has stood since 1925, first used as Northfield’s post office. A couple of other firms leased the space over the ensuing decades. However, most of 314’s history is intertwined with the history of one business: Perman’s. A family business, Perman’s thrived in the MacKay Building beginning in 1937—later expanding into the Bushnell and Tosney buildings to the north as well—for nearly 60 years, 48 under the management of Jean and Orval Perman. Jean and Orv were a couple who spent their lives here and were known for their dedication to the community.

Always at each other’s side, they took charge of Perman’s Family Apparel when Orv, a World War II veteran, returned from the war in 1945. Together, they managed their business as the community grew and changed around them, but the Permans stayed consistent. They always provided the same service with a warm smile. In 1993, the pair retired, and have both since passed away. Content Bookstore and Northfield Yarn now stand in the space that Perman’s held and have become a new source of smiles for Northfielders.