By Jennifer Houghton
If I were to design my ideal fine writing oasis, I would start from the ground up. Atlas Stationers is doing exactly that!
Between now and the first week of June, the flooring in the storefront is being replaced. All the carpet will be gone and the beautiful hardwood you would expect to see in a place dedicated to all things fine writing will be installed.
Other changes you can watch for over the coming months include layout modifications. For example, the amount of space dedicated to fountain pens will grow from 10 percent to between 40 and 50 percent. This increase will allow Atlas to bring new brands, like Italian-based Gioia and Texas-based Hinze Pens, into the store.
There will be 20 linear feet of space dedicated to fountain pen ink, doubling what was previously allotted. This means you’ll see new options, like Dominant Industry and others. So, you’ll have more inks to test at the in-store swatching station.
All of these changes will be taking place while the store is open, so you won’t see things happen all at once. However, the new floor plan leaves room for some pretty exciting future opportunities.
With the expansion of display case space, the storefront will have a more open layout. Patrons will be able to browse more easily and have ample elbow room. They can move leisurely throughout the store without being concentrated strictly at the entrance.
The best part about creating more open spaces? It means there will be square footage available for events. You heard that right! Events! Some ideas being floated as potentialities include: pen club meetings; calligraphy classes; nib tuning classes; and even special A-Team only events.
Keep an eye out on social media for pictures of the progress. We can’t wait to show you how we’re growing to make Atlas a world class fine writing center.
19 comments
After calling and speaking with you guys I spent more time looking @ (and Drooling) over your selection of fountain pens and inks. Just love it Me and my friends, Fellow Penablers, are planning a pillgramige to see your new place and really dig into your new stuff and see what we can take home with us back to Saint Louis!! After reading some of your Blog and your story, and the crew I feel as though I’m already there meeting you all and just having a great time. from what I can tell we have nothing like you guys in Saint Louis(wish we did!!) Look foward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.
Please create a text message announcement list for those of us who are not social media users.
Can’t wait to swing by and check out the revamped space! ☺️
Love the floors and the amazing space! I think I need another trip to Chicago!
Very excited to see the all the changes as they happen. I’ll have to take an extra long lunch and walk over from the office now that the weather is improving.
IG-. @gik910
Love the new store layout! Especially all the extra room for inks!
IG – @chi_sketcher
Atlas Stationers was my favorite of my Chicago trip! Can’t wait to go back!
The first thing I thought when I saw the remodeling photos on IG was that the store did indeed look bigger and more open. It’s a bit like the TARDIS in this way. And the news that half the store will now be dedicated to fountain pens is great news. It’s not like I NEEDED more choices from my favorite shop in the world, but I’m not complaining. This will just elevate your status to the sauciest and crispiest fountain pen store in the Midwest. I look forward to visiting during the Sidewalk Sale, and can’t wait to join in on some of the special events!
I love the remodeling that’s been done and can’t wait to visit the store. I just started getting into fountain pens when the pandemic started, and Atlas Stationers has been instrumental in helping me learn more about all the pens and inks out there. @jonathanventura4973
I love the idea of more space for events
@ink.therefore.i.am
So happy to see this happen. Over the past two years so many small family owned businesses have suffered and it is heart warming to see a wonderful business like Atlas Stationers strive. I always tell others Atlas Stationers was my favorite thing to come out of the pandemic as I found them. So happy for everyone at Atlas an look forward to all the great things a head.
So happy you all could remodel. I’m coming from across the country in Sept so I can’t wait to see it!!
@callygraphy.art
I wish Atlas would expand to Miami! @zarafromdahood
Congrats! The new layout looks nice. It has an air of more space now. I’m looking forward to visiting the store soon.
Seeing this makes me sad that there isn’t a place closer to me that has such selection of well everything. I’m hoping to come check it out someday when I go visit my friend living in Chicago.
Love that this article shares all the exciting changes going on at Atlas. The space looks so great. I would love to go to Atlas one day in person. Maybe I could make it to one of the future events.
IG-@vickeysplannrstickrs