WORTHINGTON — After running Crafty Corner Quilt & Sewing Shop for 40 years, owners Ken and Zuby Jansen have officially retired and handed the business they started over to Jordan and Kelly Blake.
Zuby said Crafty Corner began in 1984, after her and Ken's two daughters left home.
“My two oldest daughters were in college and I was looking for something else to do,” she says. “I had one little son who loved going to the Worthington Sports Center (a business started by Ken) with his dad, so I wanted to do something too, and we opened a consignment store in a little house across from Northland Mall.”
Eventually, the store transitioned to selling sewing and quilting supplies and more space was needed, so she moved the store to 1820 Oxford Street as a Bernina International sewing machine franchise business. By 1991, Ken had sold Worthington Sports Centre and Shorty's Texaco and joined his wife in Crafty's Corner.
“It was an interesting experience,” Ken said of the transition from his own business to his wife's. “When we got the Bernina franchise, (Bernina) said we had to do a week of training. We did the training in Des Moines, Iowa. I had to do a week of training on how to do repair work, and Zuby did a week of sewing training. That was part of the deal before we got the franchise.”
Zuby recalled that some people were unsure about how the couple's business would work, especially since they had both run their own businesses before working together.
“When my family found out Ken was coming to work in the store, they said, 'Mom, are you crazy? We were like a family back home,'” she recalled. “We were both used to being bosses, so I think they thought we couldn't work together.
“I said, 'Be good.' I taught the classes and Kenny handled sales,” she said. “He's the businessman and I was doing it as a hobby. When he came along it became a full-fledged business. Now it's our source of income.”
In February, a fire at the Worthington Chiropractic Clinic next door to Crafty Corner forced both businesses to abandon their buildings and relocate. While Crafty Corner was spared from the fire, the building suffered extensive water and smoke damage, rendering not only the building but thousands of pieces of fabric unusable. However, it wasn't long before both businesses were open for business again.
“We were watching what was going on. Even while the fire was going on, people were coming in and asking, 'Can you fix this?'” Zuby said. “It's very devastating to see something you've built over 40 years burn. It's a horrible feeling to see that happen. So we said, 'Let's open up the store and fix the machines because we have a lot of customers who spend a lot of money.' People have invested in this business and in the sewing machines. We'd better see if we can fix them.”
“Then it was like, 'Kenny, we can't just do the yarn. We have to have a better product. We have to get fabric.' And before we knew it, it was happening again! It was hard for us to stop,” she added.
After the fire, the Jansens said they truly felt the community spirit in Worthington as others helped them out during a difficult time.
“The community pitched in and stopped by and said, 'Is there anything I can help you with?'” Zuby said. “There were things we could take out of the fire and clean up. They sat down and did whatever they could for us, and we really appreciated it.”
“People have brought us food, flowers, cakes, cookies, muffins. The community has been so supportive,” she added. “You find out who your true friends are in times of need. This community supported us. They were absolutely amazing. Knowing there are people around you who care helps ease the feeling of loss.”
Working in the community brings a lot of joy. You meet a lot of people. When you go out and interact with people, you meet a lot of good people that you wouldn't normally meet. There are a lot of good people in this community.
Ken Jansen
The Jansens said now that the store has reopened at 1131 Oxford St. in Worthington, it's the perfect time to sell the store and retire.
“Look at us,” Zuby joked, “he's 93 and I'm about to turn 88!”
“We just knew it was about time,” Ken said. “We know from experience that when you find a buyer, the time to sell is when you can. If not, it's kind of tough. It was pure coincidence. The fire was on a Tuesday and they (Jordan and Kelly Blake) were planning to call us on Monday of that week about buying. It was crazy, but that's how it happened. They are the right people for the right job at the right time.”
Although the two are retiring, they have no plans to slow down.
“We're still active on the Chamber of Commerce, city committees, the Amelia Earhart statue at Sailboard Beach, Flower Power, we're going to keep doing that,” Zuby said. “We're not going anywhere, we're not quitting, we're just going to focus more on other things because we love being out among people and doing things. We're not just going to sit at home in our rocking chairs and languish.”
What Ken and Zuby loved most about running Crafty Corner, and what they will miss most, are the people they interacted with.
“(We) get lonely when people are gone,” Ken said. “I think we're good with people. Working in the community brings us a lot of joy. You meet a lot of people. You're not just confined to one church or one organization. When you get out and interact, you meet a lot of people you would never have met before, good people. There are a lot of good people in this community.”
Kelly Blake, who now owns Crafty Corner Quilt & Sewing Shop with her husband, Jordan, is no stranger to the business. Her mother previously worked there as a part-time employee for nearly 20 years. Blake said she and her husband bought Crafty Corner because they knew there would be a void in Worthington if the store left the area.
“We knew it was time for Ken and Zuby to sell the shop,” Blake says. “My husband and I knew it would leave a hole in the community. I grew up sewing all my life, so it's nice to have a local place I can go to if I need a machine or materials. We knew we could fill that space, and we also wanted to teach the next generation and help pass on the skills.”
Samuel Martin / The Globe
Kelly said she and her husband are honored to now be in charge of such an established local business.
“We are so honored that they even took the time to sit down and talk with us for the first time,” Blake said of the Jansens. “They've worked so hard to build this club from when they started to what it is today, and it's just an honor to know that we've been entrusted with a great legacy for them and that we can carry it on.”
We look forward to expanding our community of crafters and quilters, meeting more people, and serving our community in ways never before possible. We are so grateful to be here and to have this opportunity.
Kelly Blake
Blake said he expects business to pick up as people become more aware of Crafty Corner's new location.
“It's been a little slower than we expected,” Kelly acknowledged. “People who have found out we're open still didn't know the (new) location was here because of the fire. Over the past week, we've seen an increase in foot traffic as people find out we have fabric, that we're back, repairs are continuing, and that we'll continue to operate as usual just like Ken and Zubby did. It's important to get the word out so people know we're open here.”
Samuel Martin / The Globe
There are plans to use Crafty Corner's classrooms to teach sewing skills to young children, and Blake and Jordan said they look forward to contributing to Worthington's craft and sewing community.
“(We're) looking forward to expanding our community of crafters and quilters and getting to know more people and serving our community in ways we've never served before,” she said. “We're looking forward to meeting and teaching. We're homeschooled so that's a big area we want to fill. We'd love to have little kids here so we can teach them as well. We're so grateful to be here and have this opportunity.”
Crafty Corner Quilt & Sewing Shoppe can be reached at (507) 372-2707.
