Letterbox

For two people who’ve courted by correspondence—proposing on designer paper—it’s fitting that Kimberley Yurkiewicz and Zach Barocas (shown) opened Letterbox, a store dedicated to the art of putting pen to paper (2741 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-870-4529 ). A keen eye for trends in paper, a knowledge of printing and letterpress, and a touch of romance is what makes their Hennepin Avenue shop a great find.

The couple—who recently moved to Minneapolis from New York—wanted a space where customers could browse, so they took inspiration from the gallerylike stores of Brooklyn, merged it with the vibe of their own former Greenwich Village design shop, and let the merchandise speak for itself. From the sparse industrial space to the almost art-directed sense of merchandising, you won’t be instantly overwhelmed by the usual retail sensory overload. The eyes immediately focus on the vignettes, drinking in graphic floral melamine trays, richly hued stationery, and candy-colored wrapping papers. But it’s the shop’s broad custom abilities that really sets it apart. “Whether you are looking for a child’s birthday card or wedding invitations, we can do it,” says Yurkiewicz. “Anybody with a refined taste, a fresh sense of design, and an interest in social graces will find us dynamite.”

What's to Love: *Locally made jewelry by Laura King—think big, beautiful stones delicately entwined in silver wiring. *A small section dedicated to poetry books— Barocas is also a poet. *Gorgeous, brightly colored wrapping paper from Snow & Graham and Wooster & Prince. *The Crane & Co. selections have been selected with Yurkiewicz’s eye for the more modern offerings in this iconic paper house’s line.