The Idea Store is on the move.
The repurposing store, featuring creative arts and encouraging environmentally sustainable methods, closed its store at 28 E. Springfield Avenue in Champaign on Saturday. After a hasty move this week, the new location at Lincoln Square Mall will have a soft opening from noon-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24.
The new store is taking the space previously occupied by Art Mart. It will more than double the store’s Springfield space, and will include the entire wing of space that Art Mart occupied.
“The L-shape will be our main retail space,” store manager Jessy Ruddell said. “We’ll have our jewelry jackpot in (Art Mart’s former toy store) on Nov. 8-11, and then in the spring-summer of 2019 we’ll open our educational center over there.”
The Idea Store receives donated materials and offers items of all shapes and sizes. It is particularly popular with artists, teachers and others who need items for various projects.
The grand opening celebration is set for 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. It will feature a free “Trash-O-Ween” Make and Take, trick-or-treating and an event area with a bounce house and other family friendly activities.
The Idea Store isn’t just moving locations; it’s changing owners. The Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation has operated the store since it opened in 2010 but the Idea Store is transitioning to becoming an independent non-profit operation.
The new location will be open from noon-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and from noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.