diff --git a/dist/alt-browser-with-addons.js b/dist/alt-browser-with-addons.js
index cced3789..e40aca4a 100644
--- a/dist/alt-browser-with-addons.js
+++ b/dist/alt-browser-with-addons.js
@@ -1049,23 +1049,23 @@ var getInternalMethods = function (obj, excluded) {
 };
 
 var AltStore = (function () {
-  function AltStore(dispatcher, state) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+  function AltStore(dispatcher, model, state) {
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     _classCallCheck(this, AltStore);
 
     this[EE] = new EventEmitter();
     this[LIFECYCLE] = {};
-    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state;
+    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state || model;
 
-    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], state[LIFECYCLE]);
-    assign(this, state[PUBLIC_METHODS]);
+    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], model[LIFECYCLE]);
+    assign(this, model[PUBLIC_METHODS]);
 
     // Register dispatcher
     this.dispatchToken = dispatcher.register(function (payload) {
-      if (state[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
-        var result = state[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data);
-        result !== false && _this7.emitChange();
+      if (model[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
+        var result = model[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data);
+        result !== false && _this8.emitChange();
       }
     });
 
@@ -1127,7 +1127,7 @@ var ActionCreator = (function () {
   return ActionCreator;
 })();
 
-var StoreMixin = {
+var StoreMixinListeners = {
   on: function on(lifecycleEvent, handler) {
     this[LIFECYCLE][lifecycleEvent] = handler.bind(this);
   },
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ var StoreMixin = {
   },
 
   bindActions: function bindActions(actions) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(actions).forEach(function (action) {
       var symbol = actions[action];
@@ -1163,44 +1163,45 @@ var StoreMixin = {
       });
       var handler = null;
 
-      if (_this7[action] && _this7[assumedEventHandler]) {
+      if (_this8[action] && _this8[assumedEventHandler]) {
         // If you have both action and onAction
         throw new ReferenceError("You have multiple action handlers bound to an action: " + ("" + action + " and " + assumedEventHandler));
-      } else if (_this7[action]) {
+      } else if (_this8[action]) {
         // action
-        handler = _this7[action];
-      } else if (_this7[assumedEventHandler]) {
+        handler = _this8[action];
+      } else if (_this8[assumedEventHandler]) {
         // onAction
-        handler = _this7[assumedEventHandler];
+        handler = _this8[assumedEventHandler];
       }
 
       if (handler) {
-        _this7.bindAction(symbol, handler);
+        _this8.bindAction(symbol, handler);
       }
     });
   },
 
   bindListeners: function bindListeners(obj) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(obj).forEach(function (methodName) {
       var symbol = obj[methodName];
-      var listener = _this7[methodName];
+      var listener = _this8[methodName];
 
       if (!listener) {
-        throw new ReferenceError("" + methodName + " defined but does not exist in " + _this7._storeName);
+        throw new ReferenceError("" + methodName + " defined but does not exist in " + _this8._storeName);
       }
 
       if (Array.isArray(symbol)) {
         symbol.forEach(function (action) {
-          return _this7.bindAction(action, listener);
+          return _this8.bindAction(action, listener);
         });
       } else {
-        _this7.bindAction(symbol, listener);
+        _this8.bindAction(symbol, listener);
       }
     });
-  },
+  } };
 
+var StoreMixinEssentials = {
   waitFor: function waitFor(sources) {
     if (!sources) {
       throw new ReferenceError("Dispatch tokens not provided");
@@ -1220,15 +1221,19 @@ var StoreMixin = {
   },
 
   exportPublicMethods: function exportPublicMethods(methods) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(methods).forEach(function (methodName) {
       if (typeof methods[methodName] !== "function") {
         throw new TypeError("exportPublicMethods expects a function");
       }
 
-      _this7[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName];
+      _this8[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName];
     });
+  },
+
+  emitChange: function emitChange() {
+    this.getInstance().emitChange();
   }
 };
 
@@ -1269,6 +1274,55 @@ var filterSnapshotOfStores = function (snapshot, storeNames) {
   return JSON.stringify(storesToReset);
 };
 
+var createStoreFromObject = function (alt, StoreModel, key, saveStore) {
+  var storeInstance = undefined;
+
+  var StoreProto = {};
+  StoreProto[LIFECYCLE] = {};
+  StoreProto[LISTENERS] = {};
+
+  assign(StoreProto, {
+    _storeName: key,
+    alt: alt,
+    dispatcher: alt.dispatcher,
+    getInstance: function getInstance() {
+      return storeInstance;
+    },
+    setState: function setState() {
+      var values = arguments[0] === undefined ? {} : arguments[0];
+
+      assign(this.state, values);
+      this.emitChange();
+      return false;
+    }
+  }, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, StoreModel);
+
+  // bind the store listeners
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.bindListeners) {
+    StoreMixinListeners.bindListeners.call(StoreProto, StoreProto.bindListeners);
+  }
+
+  // bind the lifecycle events
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.lifecycle) {
+    Object.keys(StoreProto.lifecycle).forEach(function (event) {
+      StoreMixinListeners.on.call(StoreProto, event, StoreProto.lifecycle[event]);
+    });
+  }
+
+  // create the instance and assign the public methods to the instance
+  storeInstance = assign(new AltStore(alt.dispatcher, StoreProto, StoreProto.state), StoreProto.publicMethods);
+
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (saveStore) {
+    alt.stores[key] = storeInstance;
+    saveInitialSnapshot(alt, key);
+  }
+
+  return storeInstance;
+};
+
 var Alt = (function () {
   function Alt() {
     _classCallCheck(this, Alt);
@@ -1306,6 +1360,10 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           key = uid(this.stores, key);
         }
 
+        if (typeof StoreModel === "object") {
+          return createStoreFromObject(this, StoreModel, key, saveStore);
+        }
+
         // Creating a class here so we don't overload the provided store's
         // prototype with the mixin behaviour and I'm extending from StoreModel
         // so we can inherit any extensions from the provided store.
@@ -1322,16 +1380,13 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           return Store;
         })(StoreModel);
 
-        assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixin, {
+        assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, {
           _storeName: key,
           alt: this,
           dispatcher: this.dispatcher,
           getInstance: function getInstance() {
             return storeInstance;
           },
-          emitChange: function emitChange() {
-            this.getInstance().emitChange();
-          },
           setState: function setState() {
             var values = arguments[0] === undefined ? {} : arguments[0];
 
@@ -1372,7 +1427,7 @@ var Alt = (function () {
     },
     createActions: {
       value: function createActions(ActionsClass) {
-        var _this7 = this;
+        var _this8 = this;
 
         var exportObj = arguments[1] === undefined ? {} : arguments[1];
 
@@ -1419,7 +1474,7 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           var actionName = Symbol("" + key + "#" + action);
 
           // Wrap the action so we can provide a dispatch method
-          var newAction = new ActionCreator(_this7, actionName, actions[action], obj);
+          var newAction = new ActionCreator(_this8, actionName, actions[action], obj);
 
           // Set all the properties on action
           obj[action] = newAction[ACTION_HANDLER];
diff --git a/dist/alt-browser.js b/dist/alt-browser.js
index b2081842..9d39d7a1 100644
--- a/dist/alt-browser.js
+++ b/dist/alt-browser.js
@@ -793,23 +793,23 @@ var getInternalMethods = function (obj, excluded) {
 };
 
 var AltStore = (function () {
-  function AltStore(dispatcher, state) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+  function AltStore(dispatcher, model, state) {
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     _classCallCheck(this, AltStore);
 
     this[EE] = new EventEmitter();
     this[LIFECYCLE] = {};
-    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state;
+    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state || model;
 
-    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], state[LIFECYCLE]);
-    assign(this, state[PUBLIC_METHODS]);
+    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], model[LIFECYCLE]);
+    assign(this, model[PUBLIC_METHODS]);
 
     // Register dispatcher
     this.dispatchToken = dispatcher.register(function (payload) {
-      if (state[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
-        var result = state[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data);
-        result !== false && _this7.emitChange();
+      if (model[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
+        var result = model[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data);
+        result !== false && _this8.emitChange();
       }
     });
 
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ var ActionCreator = (function () {
   return ActionCreator;
 })();
 
-var StoreMixin = {
+var StoreMixinListeners = {
   on: function on(lifecycleEvent, handler) {
     this[LIFECYCLE][lifecycleEvent] = handler.bind(this);
   },
@@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ var StoreMixin = {
   },
 
   bindActions: function bindActions(actions) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(actions).forEach(function (action) {
       var symbol = actions[action];
@@ -907,44 +907,45 @@ var StoreMixin = {
       });
       var handler = null;
 
-      if (_this7[action] && _this7[assumedEventHandler]) {
+      if (_this8[action] && _this8[assumedEventHandler]) {
         // If you have both action and onAction
         throw new ReferenceError("You have multiple action handlers bound to an action: " + ("" + action + " and " + assumedEventHandler));
-      } else if (_this7[action]) {
+      } else if (_this8[action]) {
         // action
-        handler = _this7[action];
-      } else if (_this7[assumedEventHandler]) {
+        handler = _this8[action];
+      } else if (_this8[assumedEventHandler]) {
         // onAction
-        handler = _this7[assumedEventHandler];
+        handler = _this8[assumedEventHandler];
       }
 
       if (handler) {
-        _this7.bindAction(symbol, handler);
+        _this8.bindAction(symbol, handler);
       }
     });
   },
 
   bindListeners: function bindListeners(obj) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(obj).forEach(function (methodName) {
       var symbol = obj[methodName];
-      var listener = _this7[methodName];
+      var listener = _this8[methodName];
 
       if (!listener) {
-        throw new ReferenceError("" + methodName + " defined but does not exist in " + _this7._storeName);
+        throw new ReferenceError("" + methodName + " defined but does not exist in " + _this8._storeName);
       }
 
       if (Array.isArray(symbol)) {
         symbol.forEach(function (action) {
-          return _this7.bindAction(action, listener);
+          return _this8.bindAction(action, listener);
         });
       } else {
-        _this7.bindAction(symbol, listener);
+        _this8.bindAction(symbol, listener);
       }
     });
-  },
+  } };
 
+var StoreMixinEssentials = {
   waitFor: function waitFor(sources) {
     if (!sources) {
       throw new ReferenceError("Dispatch tokens not provided");
@@ -964,15 +965,19 @@ var StoreMixin = {
   },
 
   exportPublicMethods: function exportPublicMethods(methods) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(methods).forEach(function (methodName) {
       if (typeof methods[methodName] !== "function") {
         throw new TypeError("exportPublicMethods expects a function");
       }
 
-      _this7[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName];
+      _this8[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName];
     });
+  },
+
+  emitChange: function emitChange() {
+    this.getInstance().emitChange();
   }
 };
 
@@ -1013,6 +1018,55 @@ var filterSnapshotOfStores = function (snapshot, storeNames) {
   return JSON.stringify(storesToReset);
 };
 
+var createStoreFromObject = function (alt, StoreModel, key, saveStore) {
+  var storeInstance = undefined;
+
+  var StoreProto = {};
+  StoreProto[LIFECYCLE] = {};
+  StoreProto[LISTENERS] = {};
+
+  assign(StoreProto, {
+    _storeName: key,
+    alt: alt,
+    dispatcher: alt.dispatcher,
+    getInstance: function getInstance() {
+      return storeInstance;
+    },
+    setState: function setState() {
+      var values = arguments[0] === undefined ? {} : arguments[0];
+
+      assign(this.state, values);
+      this.emitChange();
+      return false;
+    }
+  }, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, StoreModel);
+
+  // bind the store listeners
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.bindListeners) {
+    StoreMixinListeners.bindListeners.call(StoreProto, StoreProto.bindListeners);
+  }
+
+  // bind the lifecycle events
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.lifecycle) {
+    Object.keys(StoreProto.lifecycle).forEach(function (event) {
+      StoreMixinListeners.on.call(StoreProto, event, StoreProto.lifecycle[event]);
+    });
+  }
+
+  // create the instance and assign the public methods to the instance
+  storeInstance = assign(new AltStore(alt.dispatcher, StoreProto, StoreProto.state), StoreProto.publicMethods);
+
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (saveStore) {
+    alt.stores[key] = storeInstance;
+    saveInitialSnapshot(alt, key);
+  }
+
+  return storeInstance;
+};
+
 var Alt = (function () {
   function Alt() {
     _classCallCheck(this, Alt);
@@ -1050,6 +1104,10 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           key = uid(this.stores, key);
         }
 
+        if (typeof StoreModel === "object") {
+          return createStoreFromObject(this, StoreModel, key, saveStore);
+        }
+
         // Creating a class here so we don't overload the provided store's
         // prototype with the mixin behaviour and I'm extending from StoreModel
         // so we can inherit any extensions from the provided store.
@@ -1066,16 +1124,13 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           return Store;
         })(StoreModel);
 
-        assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixin, {
+        assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, {
           _storeName: key,
           alt: this,
           dispatcher: this.dispatcher,
           getInstance: function getInstance() {
             return storeInstance;
           },
-          emitChange: function emitChange() {
-            this.getInstance().emitChange();
-          },
           setState: function setState() {
             var values = arguments[0] === undefined ? {} : arguments[0];
 
@@ -1116,7 +1171,7 @@ var Alt = (function () {
     },
     createActions: {
       value: function createActions(ActionsClass) {
-        var _this7 = this;
+        var _this8 = this;
 
         var exportObj = arguments[1] === undefined ? {} : arguments[1];
 
@@ -1163,7 +1218,7 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           var actionName = Symbol("" + key + "#" + action);
 
           // Wrap the action so we can provide a dispatch method
-          var newAction = new ActionCreator(_this7, actionName, actions[action], obj);
+          var newAction = new ActionCreator(_this8, actionName, actions[action], obj);
 
           // Set all the properties on action
           obj[action] = newAction[ACTION_HANDLER];
diff --git a/dist/alt-with-runtime.js b/dist/alt-with-runtime.js
index 994dcd37..17622e3e 100644
--- a/dist/alt-with-runtime.js
+++ b/dist/alt-with-runtime.js
@@ -50,23 +50,23 @@ var getInternalMethods = function (obj, excluded) {
 };
 
 var AltStore = (function () {
-  function AltStore(dispatcher, state) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+  function AltStore(dispatcher, model, state) {
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     babelHelpers.classCallCheck(this, AltStore);
 
     this[EE] = new EventEmitter();
     this[LIFECYCLE] = {};
-    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state;
+    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state || model;
 
-    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], state[LIFECYCLE]);
-    assign(this, state[PUBLIC_METHODS]);
+    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], model[LIFECYCLE]);
+    assign(this, model[PUBLIC_METHODS]);
 
     // Register dispatcher
     this.dispatchToken = dispatcher.register(function (payload) {
-      if (state[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
-        var result = state[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data);
-        result !== false && _this7.emitChange();
+      if (model[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
+        var result = model[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data);
+        result !== false && _this8.emitChange();
       }
     });
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ var ActionCreator = (function () {
   return ActionCreator;
 })();
 
-var StoreMixin = {
+var StoreMixinListeners = {
   on: function on(lifecycleEvent, handler) {
     this[LIFECYCLE][lifecycleEvent] = handler.bind(this);
   },
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ var StoreMixin = {
   },
 
   bindActions: function bindActions(actions) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(actions).forEach(function (action) {
       var symbol = actions[action];
@@ -174,44 +174,45 @@ var StoreMixin = {
       });
       var handler = null;
 
-      if (_this7[action] && _this7[assumedEventHandler]) {
+      if (_this8[action] && _this8[assumedEventHandler]) {
         // If you have both action and onAction
         throw new ReferenceError("You have multiple action handlers bound to an action: " + ("" + action + " and " + assumedEventHandler));
-      } else if (_this7[action]) {
+      } else if (_this8[action]) {
         // action
-        handler = _this7[action];
-      } else if (_this7[assumedEventHandler]) {
+        handler = _this8[action];
+      } else if (_this8[assumedEventHandler]) {
         // onAction
-        handler = _this7[assumedEventHandler];
+        handler = _this8[assumedEventHandler];
       }
 
       if (handler) {
-        _this7.bindAction(symbol, handler);
+        _this8.bindAction(symbol, handler);
       }
     });
   },
 
   bindListeners: function bindListeners(obj) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(obj).forEach(function (methodName) {
       var symbol = obj[methodName];
-      var listener = _this7[methodName];
+      var listener = _this8[methodName];
 
       if (!listener) {
-        throw new ReferenceError("" + methodName + " defined but does not exist in " + _this7._storeName);
+        throw new ReferenceError("" + methodName + " defined but does not exist in " + _this8._storeName);
       }
 
       if (Array.isArray(symbol)) {
         symbol.forEach(function (action) {
-          return _this7.bindAction(action, listener);
+          return _this8.bindAction(action, listener);
         });
       } else {
-        _this7.bindAction(symbol, listener);
+        _this8.bindAction(symbol, listener);
       }
     });
-  },
+  } };
 
+var StoreMixinEssentials = {
   waitFor: function waitFor(sources) {
     if (!sources) {
       throw new ReferenceError("Dispatch tokens not provided");
@@ -231,15 +232,19 @@ var StoreMixin = {
   },
 
   exportPublicMethods: function exportPublicMethods(methods) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(methods).forEach(function (methodName) {
       if (typeof methods[methodName] !== "function") {
         throw new TypeError("exportPublicMethods expects a function");
       }
 
-      _this7[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName];
+      _this8[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName];
     });
+  },
+
+  emitChange: function emitChange() {
+    this.getInstance().emitChange();
   }
 };
 
@@ -280,6 +285,55 @@ var filterSnapshotOfStores = function (snapshot, storeNames) {
   return JSON.stringify(storesToReset);
 };
 
+var createStoreFromObject = function (alt, StoreModel, key, saveStore) {
+  var storeInstance = undefined;
+
+  var StoreProto = {};
+  StoreProto[LIFECYCLE] = {};
+  StoreProto[LISTENERS] = {};
+
+  assign(StoreProto, {
+    _storeName: key,
+    alt: alt,
+    dispatcher: alt.dispatcher,
+    getInstance: function getInstance() {
+      return storeInstance;
+    },
+    setState: function setState() {
+      var values = arguments[0] === undefined ? {} : arguments[0];
+
+      assign(this.state, values);
+      this.emitChange();
+      return false;
+    }
+  }, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, StoreModel);
+
+  // bind the store listeners
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.bindListeners) {
+    StoreMixinListeners.bindListeners.call(StoreProto, StoreProto.bindListeners);
+  }
+
+  // bind the lifecycle events
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.lifecycle) {
+    Object.keys(StoreProto.lifecycle).forEach(function (event) {
+      StoreMixinListeners.on.call(StoreProto, event, StoreProto.lifecycle[event]);
+    });
+  }
+
+  // create the instance and assign the public methods to the instance
+  storeInstance = assign(new AltStore(alt.dispatcher, StoreProto, StoreProto.state), StoreProto.publicMethods);
+
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (saveStore) {
+    alt.stores[key] = storeInstance;
+    saveInitialSnapshot(alt, key);
+  }
+
+  return storeInstance;
+};
+
 var Alt = (function () {
   function Alt() {
     babelHelpers.classCallCheck(this, Alt);
@@ -319,6 +373,10 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           key = uid(this.stores, key);
         }
 
+        if (typeof StoreModel === "object") {
+          return createStoreFromObject(this, StoreModel, key, saveStore);
+        }
+
         // Creating a class here so we don't overload the provided store's
         // prototype with the mixin behaviour and I'm extending from StoreModel
         // so we can inherit any extensions from the provided store.
@@ -334,16 +392,13 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           return Store;
         })(StoreModel);
 
-        assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixin, {
+        assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, {
           _storeName: key,
           alt: this,
           dispatcher: this.dispatcher,
           getInstance: function getInstance() {
             return storeInstance;
           },
-          emitChange: function emitChange() {
-            this.getInstance().emitChange();
-          },
           setState: function setState() {
             var values = arguments[0] === undefined ? {} : arguments[0];
 
@@ -388,7 +443,7 @@ var Alt = (function () {
     },
     createActions: {
       value: function createActions(ActionsClass) {
-        var _this7 = this;
+        var _this8 = this;
 
         var exportObj = arguments[1] === undefined ? {} : arguments[1];
 
@@ -435,7 +490,7 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           var actionName = Symbol("" + key + "#" + action);
 
           // Wrap the action so we can provide a dispatch method
-          var newAction = new ActionCreator(_this7, actionName, actions[action], obj);
+          var newAction = new ActionCreator(_this8, actionName, actions[action], obj);
 
           // Set all the properties on action
           obj[action] = newAction[ACTION_HANDLER];
diff --git a/dist/alt.js b/dist/alt.js
index 68f66c98..5316f6cb 100644
--- a/dist/alt.js
+++ b/dist/alt.js
@@ -62,23 +62,23 @@ var getInternalMethods = function (obj, excluded) {
 };
 
 var AltStore = (function () {
-  function AltStore(dispatcher, state) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+  function AltStore(dispatcher, model, state) {
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     _classCallCheck(this, AltStore);
 
     this[EE] = new EventEmitter();
     this[LIFECYCLE] = {};
-    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state;
+    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state || model;
 
-    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], state[LIFECYCLE]);
-    assign(this, state[PUBLIC_METHODS]);
+    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], model[LIFECYCLE]);
+    assign(this, model[PUBLIC_METHODS]);
 
     // Register dispatcher
     this.dispatchToken = dispatcher.register(function (payload) {
-      if (state[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
-        var result = state[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data);
-        result !== false && _this7.emitChange();
+      if (model[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
+        var result = model[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data);
+        result !== false && _this8.emitChange();
       }
     });
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ var ActionCreator = (function () {
   return ActionCreator;
 })();
 
-var StoreMixin = {
+var StoreMixinListeners = {
   on: function on(lifecycleEvent, handler) {
     this[LIFECYCLE][lifecycleEvent] = handler.bind(this);
   },
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ var StoreMixin = {
   },
 
   bindActions: function bindActions(actions) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(actions).forEach(function (action) {
       var symbol = actions[action];
@@ -188,44 +188,45 @@ var StoreMixin = {
       });
       var handler = null;
 
-      if (_this7[action] && _this7[assumedEventHandler]) {
+      if (_this8[action] && _this8[assumedEventHandler]) {
         // If you have both action and onAction
         throw new ReferenceError("You have multiple action handlers bound to an action: " + ("" + action + " and " + assumedEventHandler));
-      } else if (_this7[action]) {
+      } else if (_this8[action]) {
         // action
-        handler = _this7[action];
-      } else if (_this7[assumedEventHandler]) {
+        handler = _this8[action];
+      } else if (_this8[assumedEventHandler]) {
         // onAction
-        handler = _this7[assumedEventHandler];
+        handler = _this8[assumedEventHandler];
       }
 
       if (handler) {
-        _this7.bindAction(symbol, handler);
+        _this8.bindAction(symbol, handler);
       }
     });
   },
 
   bindListeners: function bindListeners(obj) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(obj).forEach(function (methodName) {
       var symbol = obj[methodName];
-      var listener = _this7[methodName];
+      var listener = _this8[methodName];
 
       if (!listener) {
-        throw new ReferenceError("" + methodName + " defined but does not exist in " + _this7._storeName);
+        throw new ReferenceError("" + methodName + " defined but does not exist in " + _this8._storeName);
       }
 
       if (Array.isArray(symbol)) {
         symbol.forEach(function (action) {
-          return _this7.bindAction(action, listener);
+          return _this8.bindAction(action, listener);
         });
       } else {
-        _this7.bindAction(symbol, listener);
+        _this8.bindAction(symbol, listener);
       }
     });
-  },
+  } };
 
+var StoreMixinEssentials = {
   waitFor: function waitFor(sources) {
     if (!sources) {
       throw new ReferenceError("Dispatch tokens not provided");
@@ -245,15 +246,19 @@ var StoreMixin = {
   },
 
   exportPublicMethods: function exportPublicMethods(methods) {
-    var _this7 = this;
+    var _this8 = this;
 
     Object.keys(methods).forEach(function (methodName) {
       if (typeof methods[methodName] !== "function") {
         throw new TypeError("exportPublicMethods expects a function");
       }
 
-      _this7[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName];
+      _this8[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName];
     });
+  },
+
+  emitChange: function emitChange() {
+    this.getInstance().emitChange();
   }
 };
 
@@ -294,6 +299,55 @@ var filterSnapshotOfStores = function (snapshot, storeNames) {
   return JSON.stringify(storesToReset);
 };
 
+var createStoreFromObject = function (alt, StoreModel, key, saveStore) {
+  var storeInstance = undefined;
+
+  var StoreProto = {};
+  StoreProto[LIFECYCLE] = {};
+  StoreProto[LISTENERS] = {};
+
+  assign(StoreProto, {
+    _storeName: key,
+    alt: alt,
+    dispatcher: alt.dispatcher,
+    getInstance: function getInstance() {
+      return storeInstance;
+    },
+    setState: function setState() {
+      var values = arguments[0] === undefined ? {} : arguments[0];
+
+      assign(this.state, values);
+      this.emitChange();
+      return false;
+    }
+  }, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, StoreModel);
+
+  // bind the store listeners
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.bindListeners) {
+    StoreMixinListeners.bindListeners.call(StoreProto, StoreProto.bindListeners);
+  }
+
+  // bind the lifecycle events
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.lifecycle) {
+    Object.keys(StoreProto.lifecycle).forEach(function (event) {
+      StoreMixinListeners.on.call(StoreProto, event, StoreProto.lifecycle[event]);
+    });
+  }
+
+  // create the instance and assign the public methods to the instance
+  storeInstance = assign(new AltStore(alt.dispatcher, StoreProto, StoreProto.state), StoreProto.publicMethods);
+
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (saveStore) {
+    alt.stores[key] = storeInstance;
+    saveInitialSnapshot(alt, key);
+  }
+
+  return storeInstance;
+};
+
 var Alt = (function () {
   function Alt() {
     _classCallCheck(this, Alt);
@@ -333,6 +387,10 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           key = uid(this.stores, key);
         }
 
+        if (typeof StoreModel === "object") {
+          return createStoreFromObject(this, StoreModel, key, saveStore);
+        }
+
         // Creating a class here so we don't overload the provided store's
         // prototype with the mixin behaviour and I'm extending from StoreModel
         // so we can inherit any extensions from the provided store.
@@ -349,16 +407,13 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           return Store;
         })(StoreModel);
 
-        assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixin, {
+        assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, {
           _storeName: key,
           alt: this,
           dispatcher: this.dispatcher,
           getInstance: function getInstance() {
             return storeInstance;
           },
-          emitChange: function emitChange() {
-            this.getInstance().emitChange();
-          },
           setState: function setState() {
             var values = arguments[0] === undefined ? {} : arguments[0];
 
@@ -403,7 +458,7 @@ var Alt = (function () {
     },
     createActions: {
       value: function createActions(ActionsClass) {
-        var _this7 = this;
+        var _this8 = this;
 
         var exportObj = arguments[1] === undefined ? {} : arguments[1];
 
@@ -452,7 +507,7 @@ var Alt = (function () {
           var actionName = Symbol("" + key + "#" + action);
 
           // Wrap the action so we can provide a dispatch method
-          var newAction = new ActionCreator(_this7, actionName, actions[action], obj);
+          var newAction = new ActionCreator(_this8, actionName, actions[action], obj);
 
           // Set all the properties on action
           obj[action] = newAction[ACTION_HANDLER];
diff --git a/src/alt.js b/src/alt.js
index 515c6708..077db0b2 100644
--- a/src/alt.js
+++ b/src/alt.js
@@ -49,18 +49,18 @@ const getInternalMethods = (obj, excluded) => {
 }
 
 class AltStore {
-  constructor(dispatcher, state) {
+  constructor(dispatcher, model, state) {
     this[EE] = new EventEmitter()
     this[LIFECYCLE] = {}
-    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state
+    this[STATE_CONTAINER] = state || model
 
-    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], state[LIFECYCLE])
-    assign(this, state[PUBLIC_METHODS])
+    assign(this[LIFECYCLE], model[LIFECYCLE])
+    assign(this, model[PUBLIC_METHODS])
 
     // Register dispatcher
     this.dispatchToken = dispatcher.register((payload) => {
-      if (state[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
-        const result = state[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data)
+      if (model[LISTENERS][payload.action]) {
+        const result = model[LISTENERS][payload.action](payload.data)
         result !== false && this.emitChange()
       }
     })
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class ActionCreator {
   }
 }
 
-const StoreMixin = {
+const StoreMixinListeners = {
   on(lifecycleEvent, handler) {
     this[LIFECYCLE][lifecycleEvent] = handler.bind(this)
   },
@@ -184,6 +184,9 @@ const StoreMixin = {
     })
   },
 
+}
+
+const StoreMixinEssentials = {
   waitFor(sources) {
     if (!sources) {
       throw new ReferenceError('Dispatch tokens not provided')
@@ -210,6 +213,10 @@ const StoreMixin = {
 
       this[PUBLIC_METHODS][methodName] = methods[methodName]
     })
+  },
+
+  emitChange() {
+    this.getInstance().emitChange()
   }
 }
 
@@ -252,6 +259,56 @@ const filterSnapshotOfStores = (snapshot, storeNames) => {
   return JSON.stringify(storesToReset)
 }
 
+const createStoreFromObject = (alt, StoreModel, key, saveStore) => {
+  let storeInstance
+
+  const StoreProto = {}
+  StoreProto[LIFECYCLE] = {}
+  StoreProto[LISTENERS] = {}
+
+  assign(StoreProto, {
+    _storeName: key,
+    alt,
+    dispatcher: alt.dispatcher,
+    getInstance() {
+      return storeInstance
+    },
+    setState(values = {}) {
+      assign(this.state, values)
+      this.emitChange()
+      return false
+    }
+  }, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, StoreModel)
+
+  // bind the store listeners
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.bindListeners) {
+    StoreMixinListeners.bindListeners.call(StoreProto, StoreProto.bindListeners)
+  }
+
+  // bind the lifecycle events
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (StoreProto.lifecycle) {
+    Object.keys(StoreProto.lifecycle).forEach((event) => {
+      StoreMixinListeners.on.call(StoreProto, event, StoreProto.lifecycle[event])
+    })
+  }
+
+  // create the instance and assign the public methods to the instance
+  storeInstance = assign(
+    new AltStore(alt.dispatcher, StoreProto, StoreProto.state),
+    StoreProto.publicMethods
+  )
+
+  /* istanbul ignore else */
+  if (saveStore) {
+    alt.stores[key] = storeInstance
+    saveInitialSnapshot(alt, key)
+  }
+
+  return storeInstance
+}
+
 class Alt {
   constructor() {
     this.dispatcher = new Dispatcher()
@@ -285,6 +342,10 @@ class Alt {
       key = uid(this.stores, key)
     }
 
+    if (typeof StoreModel === 'object') {
+      return createStoreFromObject(this, StoreModel, key, saveStore)
+    }
+
     // Creating a class here so we don't overload the provided store's
     // prototype with the mixin behaviour and I'm extending from StoreModel
     // so we can inherit any extensions from the provided store.
@@ -294,16 +355,13 @@ class Alt {
       }
     }
 
-    assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixin, {
+    assign(Store.prototype, StoreMixinListeners, StoreMixinEssentials, {
       _storeName: key,
       alt: this,
       dispatcher: this.dispatcher,
       getInstance() {
         return storeInstance
       },
-      emitChange() {
-        this.getInstance().emitChange()
-      },
       setState(values = {}) {
         assign(this, values)
         this.emitChange()
diff --git a/test/es3-module-pattern.js b/test/es3-module-pattern.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2ef1eb91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/es3-module-pattern.js
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+import Alt from '../dist/alt-with-runtime'
+import assert from 'assert'
+
+const alt = new Alt()
+
+const actions = alt.generateActions('fire')
+
+function MyStore() {
+  var privateVariable = true
+
+  return {
+    displayName: 'MyStore',
+
+    state: {
+      data: 1
+    },
+
+    publicMethods: {
+      getData: function () {
+        return this.getState().data
+      }
+    },
+
+    testProperty: 4,
+
+    bindListeners: {
+      handleFire: actions.FIRE
+    },
+
+    handleFire: function (data) {
+      this.state.data = data
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+const myStore = alt.createStore(MyStore())
+
+export default {
+  'using the es3 module pattern': {
+    beforeEach() {
+      alt.recycle()
+    },
+
+    'store method exists'() {
+      const storePrototype = Object.getPrototypeOf(myStore)
+      const assertMethods = ['constructor', 'getEventEmitter', 'emitChange', 'listen', 'unlisten', 'getState']
+      assert.deepEqual(Object.getOwnPropertyNames(storePrototype), assertMethods, 'methods exist for store')
+      assert.equal(typeof myStore.addListener, 'undefined', 'event emitter methods not present')
+      assert.equal(typeof myStore.removeListener, 'undefined', 'event emitter methods not present')
+      assert.equal(typeof myStore.emit, 'undefined', 'event emitter methods not present')
+    },
+
+    'public methods available'() {
+      assert.equal(typeof myStore.getData, 'function', 'public methods are available')
+      assert.equal(myStore.getData(), 1, 'initial store data is set')
+    },
+
+    'private and instance variables are not available'() {
+      assert.equal(myStore.privateVariable, undefined, 'encapsulated variables are not available')
+      assert.equal(myStore.testProperty, undefined, 'instance variables are not available')
+    },
+
+    'firing an action'() {
+      actions.fire(2)
+
+      assert.equal(myStore.getState().data, 2, 'action was fired and handled correctly')
+    },
+
+    'adding lifecycle events'() {
+      let called = false
+
+      class TestStore {
+        constructor() {
+          this.lifecycle = {
+            init() {
+              called = true
+            }
+          }
+
+          this.state = {
+            foo: 'bar'
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      const store = alt.createStore(new TestStore())
+
+      assert.equal(called, true, 'lifecycle event was called')
+      assert.equal(store.getState().foo, 'bar', 'state is set')
+    },
+
+    'set state'() {
+      const TestStore = {
+        state: { hello: null, inst: null },
+
+        bindListeners: {
+          handleFire: actions.FIRE
+        },
+
+        handleFire(data) {
+          this.state.inst = this.getInstance().getEventEmitter()
+
+          this.setState({
+            hello: data
+          })
+
+          this.setState()
+        }
+      }
+
+      const store = alt.createStore(TestStore)
+      assert.equal(store.getState().hello, null, 'store state property has not been set yet')
+      assert.equal(store.getState().inst, null, 'store state property has not been set yet')
+
+      actions.fire('world')
+
+      assert.equal(store.getState().hello, 'world', 'store state was set using setState')
+      assert.equal(store.getState().inst, store.getEventEmitter(), 'get instance works')
+    },
+
+    'set state in lifecycle'() {
+      const TestStore = {
+        state: { test: null },
+
+        lifecycle: {
+          init() {
+            this.state.test = 'i am here'
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      const store = alt.createStore(TestStore)
+      assert.equal(store.getState().test, 'i am here', 'setting state on lifecycle')
+    },
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/helpers/SaaM.js b/test/helpers/SaaM.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a52074bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/helpers/SaaM.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import actions from './SampleActions'
+
+export const bindListeners = {
+  handleClick: actions.FIRE
+}
+
+export const state = {
+  data: 1
+}
+
+export function handleClick(data) {
+  this.state.data = data
+}
diff --git a/test/helpers/SampleActions.js b/test/helpers/SampleActions.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..43b5ea3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/helpers/SampleActions.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import alt from './alt'
+
+export default alt.generateActions('fire')
diff --git a/test/helpers/alt.js b/test/helpers/alt.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..97a145db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/helpers/alt.js
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+import Alt from '../../dist/alt-with-runtime'
+export default new Alt()
diff --git a/test/store-as-a-module.js b/test/store-as-a-module.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7e97c108
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/store-as-a-module.js
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import assert from 'assert'
+
+import alt from './helpers/alt'
+import actions from './helpers/SampleActions'
+import * as StoreModel from './helpers/SaaM'
+
+const store = alt.createStore(StoreModel)
+
+export default {
+  beforeEach() {
+    alt.recycle()
+  },
+
+  'store state is there'() {
+    assert.equal(store.getState().data, 1, 'store data is initialized to 1')
+
+    actions.fire(2)
+
+    assert.equal(store.getState().data, 2, 'store data was updated')
+  }
+}