Bellefonte hobby & crafts store plans to open soon as ‘a happy place to shop and create’
A new hobby and crafts shop for amateurs and experts alike will soon open its doors in Centre County.
Hobby Hour will offer a wide range of craft kits, art projects, puzzles, games and more once it launches later this month at 141 W. High St. in Bellefonte above the former home of Chew Chew Bun, URBN Flavorhaus and the long-standing Cool Beans Coffee Shop. Owner Emily Tressler, a State College native and Penn State graduate, says Hobby Hour hopes to offer a casual environment for craft lovers seeking new challenges, collaboration or a bit of company.
“The tagline I like to say is, ‘A happy place to shop and create,’” Tressler told the Centre Daily Times. “I just wanted to create a space where people can come and find craft kits, art kits, puzzles, games – those types of things to provide entertainment or something to do.”
Hobby Hour’s inventory will largely feature craft kits ranging from crochet and knitting kits to paint-by-numbers and jewelry-making sets, many of which come from small businesses scattered across the country. Other products will include some puzzles, board games and card games.
“I joke with my friends I like doing crafts for the ‘uncrafty,’” Tressler said. “Ones that are easy and good for your mental health and activate the creativity in your brain without the stress of having a huge financial commitment to try out a new activity or round up all the right materials.”
For now, Hobby Hour plans to cater mainly toward adults, Tressler said. She expressed interest in offering children’s activities in the future but will focus on options for adults while the store starts smaller in scope.
Regardless, Hobby Hour’s products will include craft kits for all skill levels, whether guests are trying to pick up a new craft or find the latest creation for their hobby of choice.
Craft kits and products aside, Tressler hopes Hobby Hour can host events that collaborate with local businesses and artists. While discussing her vision for the shop, she floated ideas for board game nights, photography classes and seminars from local experts.
“I am not an artist who should be teaching anybody anything, per sé. That’s not what this is,” Tressler said. “But I’m excited to be a facilitator and bring in people who are [artistic] and can help guide workshops or spark conversations, whatever it may be.”
Tressler hopes Hobby Hour can offer a welcoming space for people searching for collaboration or camaraderie, including those who feel isolated in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic or work remotely and lose out on some chances for in-person interactions.
“As someone who grew up in the area and is now at my age, a few years out of college, you’re in a weird time in your life when there’s a lot to do in the area but you get stuck in routines,” she said. “I really wanted to find something catering to those looking for something else to do. This space, along with retail and selling craft kits, puzzles and games, will have opportunities for people to sit, bring their own crafts or buy one in the store and find a community space.”
For now, Tressler is the sole figure behind Hobby Hour. She alone will run the store as it gets up and running with plans to open by late February.
Hobby Hour will initially operate in the evenings on weekdays and during the day on weekends when Tressler is free from her full-time job as a digital marketing specialist at Mount Nittany Health. She said the store’s hours could expand down the line if community demand grows or her team expands.
“I can already see the excitement,” Tressler said. “I’ve gotten a lot of love on social media with people excited for the store to open, and that calmed one of my fears. I was like, ‘I know I would really like something like this, but would other people?’ I think the answer is yes.”
Tressler, a first-time business owner, felt opening Hobby Hour in Bellefonte was a natural fit once she noticed the vacant storefront just steps away from her home. She credited the area’s community — and its affordability compared to State College — with providing the support needed to open her own business.
“I feel like this a great, rich area with people who have a lot of knowledge and resources and are willing to collaborate, help out and offer advice,” Tressler said. “It’s just a great area for entrepreneurs in general, not just retail small businesses. I’m grateful I grew up in this area and felt, ‘OK, this is something I can definitely pursue.’”
Follow Hobby Hour on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates as the store gets ready to launch.
This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 2:41 PM.
%202.JPG)