NEW HAVEN — Opening the door to Knit New Haven is like entering the coziness of home.
It’s not just the antiques display case that suggests domesticity.
Nor is it merely the kitchen table-like sitting space, which doubles as a work station for those who wish to spend time developing their craft.
Even the columns of stacked bins filled with vividly hued yarn aren’t primarily responsible for the store’s warm and fuzzy welcome.
Above all else, the inviting hominess of Knit New Haven can be attributed to the infectious enthusiasm of its co-owners.
“We’re all knitters,” says June Sachs. “What better thing to do than go into business with something you love?”
“There would have been no other business for us,” adds Linda Reis.
Together with Julia Bogardus, they pooled their resources to establish Knit New Haven at 26 Whitney Avenue late last year. The store, which had its grand opening November 1, offers a variety of brands, textures and colors of yarn, along with accessories such as buttons, needles and shawl pins. Also found inside the 760-square-foot shop are spinning wheels, patterns, books and magazines, sewing kits, tape measures, reusable shopping bags and other incidentals. In all, Knit New Haven boasts 7,000 items supplied by about 45 vendors.
Much of the yarn is displayed against the walls, creating a space that feels, at once, intimate and open.
“We wanted a certain look for the store — kind of homey, with antiques,” Reis says.
The setting is conducive not only to the needs of walk-in customers, but also to patrons who come in and stay a while, such as those who take advantage of regular knitting classes the shop offers.
“We have a ‘Drop In and Knit’ on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons,” says Reis.
“People can come in and knit whenever they want,” notes Sachs. “We have people who come in and buy some yarn and sit and knit.”
Sachs came up with the idea for Knit New Haven last year when her youngest child was preparing to attend college.
“I was in great need of filling my time and not going through the empty-nest syndrome,” says Sachs, who lives in New Haven. She pitched the idea about opening a knitting store to fellow long-time knitters Reis and Bogardus, both of Woodbridge. They were undaunted by the recession, says Sachs.
“Sometimes there’s opportunity in a recessed market,” Sachs says. Knit New Haven is the kind of store that may even help get people through the tough period as they gravitate more to a back-to-basics approach to daily living, she says.
For herself, knitting is “very therapeutic. It’s very calming,” says Sachs, who learned the craft from her mother. Reis learned from her grandmother and Bogardus is self-taught.
“There’s a comfort you need in hard times,” notes Reis. “There’s a sense of fulfillment of making something out of nothing.”
The biggest challenge to opening Knit New Haven was finding the right place within their budget, says Sachs. The three partners had less than $100,000 to spend on start-up costs, and they were adamant about staying within their budget and not acquiring debt.
“We really wanted to be smart business-wise,” Reis says.
Landlord Konover provided an affordable lease, and the owners spent time renovating the space to their specifications.
“We love our landlord,” says Sachs. “Konover has been really supportive. They worked with us getting the best leasing arrangement and helping us with suggestions. They’ve just been great. I think we got a better lease than we would have [in a more flourishing economy].”
Just a little over two months into their new venture, the owners say they are pleased so far.
“We wanted a yarn shop that has an old fashioned feel, that emphasized customer service,” says Reis.
“For all three of us, it was a creative outlet,” adds Sachs. “We’re happy to have people come here and knit. We’re happy to have a full table.”
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