Yarns, etc is hitting the road -- heading out of its nook in Carrboro to a more heavily traveled shopping center in Chapel Hill. We caught up with the owner, Mary Stowe, to ask a few questions. Here's what we learned:
Wimi: Why are you moving?
Mary: The space where Knit a Bit [a longtime knit shop that recently closed] was at the Village Plaza Shopping center next to Whole Foods became available at the beginning of June. I jumped on the space for lots of reasons. I know that since Great Yarns [Stowe also owns Great Yarns] is next to Whole foods in Raleigh that that is a great locationfor a yarn store. Alice Kimball had run Knit- A -Bit
for over 20 years in that location. People are used to a yarn shop being there. It is closer to where I live in Chapel Hill(gas prices) and more people shop in that part of town- Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Southern Season, Univ Mall etc.
The store is a bit larger and has a dedicated classroom space , office and storage.
W: When are you moving?
M: We are able to get in on the 15th of July to start the renovations. We plan to be open around August7th or 8th
W: Will the Carrboro store remain open until the move?
M: We will close in Carrboro the 30th or 31st of July
W: How long were you at the Carrboro location?
M: We opened across the street in January 2002- moved in
April 2006 to present location.
W: Will you have a grand reopening when the Chapel Hill
store opens?
M: Yes, sometime in September. We will have a sale in the Carrboro store the last week we are open.
W: Will you have the same hours there?
M: We are going to be open 10-6 Tuesday through Friday, 10-5 on Saturday,1-4 on Sunday
W: Will there be different things in the new store?
M: Yes, I went to the TNNA market in June and bought several new lines of yarn. We are also adding a full range of Needlepoint
W: Will you have the spinning corner?
M: Yes- Mary Ann has said she is expanding that too-
W: Any changes at the Raleigh store?
M: Not right now
W: What kind of changes in Greensboro?
M: Yarns etc... will no longer operate in Greensboro. I am sad as I have had that store for nearly 14 years but I am looking forward to staying closer to home. Tina Feir has run Spinners Ridge out of that location for 4 years. She and a partner, Carl Beeson, are going to continue to run their own Yarn store- Gate City Yarns out of the same location. Tina sells lots of spinning fibers and equipment and teaches many spinning classes in the store. They will run a great store.
