Closure of Minnesota Makers Store Leaves Void in Art Community
Near the shores of Lake Minnetonka sits Minnesota Makers. It’s a store along Water Street in Excelsior filled with thousands of items, all of which have a local connection.
“We have so many items — everything in the store is made by local artists,” said Christa Kalk of Golden Valley, who owns Minnesota Makers. “We’ve got over a hundred artists featured from around the state. Most are metro located, so within our communities.”
Minnesota Makers has everything from greeting cards to jewelry to holiday decorations. In the nearly ten years that Kalk has run the business, she’s sold more than $2 million worth of merchandise.
“What we were able to give [the artists] back from their sales meant that they could do soccer or swimming lessons or go on family vacations or just pay the bills,” Kalk said. “Whatever it was, that money went back into the community where we all live.”
It was a win-win for both the artists, and the customers who wanted to help support local businesses. But on Dec. 9, Kalk made a surprising announcement on Facebook.
Christa Kalk (left), helps a customer at Minnesota Makers in Excelsior.
“We are having the bittersweet moment of coming to a close,” Kalk said on her Facebook post. “We are two weeks away from the end of Minnesota Makers two, weeks from today. So obviously, I would love it if you’d come out and support the artists one last time. Come say hi, come say goodbye.”
The news comes just a few months after the sun set on Minnesota Makers’ Robbinsdale location. The decision to close that store was made, in large part, because of declining sales and bad experiences with theft.
Yet as the Excelsior store approaches its final day on Dec. 23, Kalk isn’t looking to dwell on the negatives.
“It was not about me. It was about the artists, and it’s always been about the artists,” she said.
Last-minute shoppers can still buy the work of one of those artists just in time for Christmas.
“I just wanna say thank you so much for your years of support,” Kalk said of her customers. “For supporting the store and supporting the local artists. The money went straight to them and we’re so grateful for all of your support over the years.”
Related: Minnesota Makers To Close Robbinsdale Store
