Paper Source

In this era of e-mail, mass market, and get-it-quick, there’s still room for made-by-hand and snail mail. Local crafts connoisseurs head to Uptown’s Paper Source (3048 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-377-0700) for their tools. It’s not new to town, and it’s a chain—though more of a boutique chain, with just seventeen shops, mostly in California, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Its former digs made news last spring when a van crashed into the neighboring salon. Though Paper Source was spared, a spring freeze caused pipes to break, flooding the evacuated building—the kiss of death for a paper store.

Loyalists were afraid they’d lost one of their oases in this big box world (even Target execs have had special gifts wrapped here). Thankfully, this summer it landed in a stunning new corner store, with large windows, just next door to Lucia’s Restaurant. The new, larger space allows the exquisite collection—including wrapping paper, ready-made cards, journals, albums, books, ribbon, writing instruments, card stock, envelopes, and other accouterments for DIY—and there’s more breathing room than in the former cramped space. The staff is passionate about what they sell and can provide assistance and ideas. The shop also offers classes and sells custom invitations and announcements for those lacking the talent or the time.

The goal at Paper Source isn’t to offer the largest selection of anything—but its motto is “Do something creative everyday.” We love it.