Spark Letterpress Opens a Storefront

The local favorite staionery maker turns its Northeast Minneapolis print shop into a retail store

spark letterpress, jim watne, valerie carlson, stationery, shopping, northeast minneapolis
Spark Letterpress’ Northeast storefront

Photo by Poly Mendes Photography


Local favorite stationery maker Spark letterpress has transformed its Northeast print shop into a retail storefront. Husband-and-wife owners Jim Watne and Valerie Carlson have stocked their store, Spark, with quirky-cool finds such as vintage Italian pencils, playful staplers by Ellepi (often found in art museum gift shops), and gold ballpoint pens with interchangeable ink colors, plus paper goods and party supplies, chic wrapping paper and notebooks, and boldly patterned travel bags from hip designers in Brooklyn, L.A., and beyond. And the shop’s new business hours means Spark fans won’t have to make an appointment to sit down for a custom stationery consultation, see the presses in action, or pick up a last-minute birthday card. After all, a handmade card has Hallmark beat when it’s the thought that counts. • sparkletterpress.com