Hello from the Kapps!
We’re Angela and Keith, and we’re so glad you’re here. CRAFT was created from a lifelong commitment to early childhood education, creativity, and community. What began as years of supporting children, families, and educators has grown into a space where thrift, making, and purpose come together. Here’s a little about how we got here.
Our Story
Our journey into early childhood education—and eventually to CRAFT—has been shaped by decades of shared work, learning, and a deep belief in community.
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Angela’s path in early childhood began in 1989 as an intern at a child care program located within a homeless shelter in Minneapolis. From the very beginning, she saw firsthand how powerful high-quality, compassionate care can be for children and families facing real challenges. While earning her associate degree from North Hennepin Community College in 1993, Angela worked part-time in child care, building hands-on experience alongside her education.
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Over the years, Angela held a variety of leadership roles in early learning, including serving as a Director for a local child care organization and later working with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) as an Accreditation Specialist. In that role, she traveled across the country supporting programs as they worked toward higher quality standards—an experience that deeply shaped her understanding of what educators need to succeed.
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In 2006, Angela transitioned to working with Head Start, the same year she met Keith. Angela went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education through Metro State’s Urban Teacher Program in 2010 and her master’s degree from Concordia University in 2013.
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When a Head Start site on the HHH Job Corps campus closed in 2012, Angela saw an opportunity to serve families in a new way. She submitted a proposal to open her own child care program on the site, which was approved later that year. That first center opened in October 2012 and became the foundation for what would grow into multiple programs across the Twin Cities.
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Keith, originally from North Dakota, moved to Minnesota in 2003. After spending 13 years working at T-Mobile, he made the decision in 2017 to join Angela full-time in running their child care centers. Together, we expanded our programs between 2016 and 2020, opening additional locations in White Bear Lake, Inver Grove Heights, and Maplewood.
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We were married on July 7, 2007, in Las Vegas, and together we are parents to seven children: Nick, Amber, Ashley, Courtney, Ryder, Nathan, and Alexis. Family has always been at the center of everything we do, and that perspective has guided how we show up for the children, educators, and communities we serve.
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Beginning in 2022, we made the intentional decision to transition our child care centers to new owners. In October 2023, our daughter Ashley Kapp took ownership of our final program, The Learning Garden in Maplewood, located next door to our home. While we continue to support the program, we stepped away from daily operations to focus on the next chapter of our work.
That chapter led to CRAFT.
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In 2023, Angela joined the Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) as a part-time coach, allowing her to support early childhood educators and administrators through on-site and virtual coaching. At the same time, we began shaping the vision for a new kind of space—one that blended creativity, sustainability, and advocacy for educators.
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In August 2024, we signed the lease for our thrift store space, and on November 17, 2024, we opened the doors of CRAFT & More Thrift Store. CRAFT was created as a way to continue supporting early childhood educators in a new, sustainable way. Through thrifted goods, upcycling, workshops, and community gatherings, we use proceeds from the store to fund training, resources, and opportunities that help educators build high-quality, inclusive learning environments for all children.
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CRAFT is more than a store—it’s the intersection of our life’s work, our values, and our belief that when we support educators, everyone benefits.
The Evolution of
CRAFT & More Thrift Store
CRAFT & More Thrift Store opened its doors on November 17, 2024, with a simple but powerful idea: create a space where thrift, creativity, and purpose could live side by side—and where proceeds could directly support early childhood educators.
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In those early weeks, CRAFT felt very much like a work in progress in the best possible way. Shelves were still being filled, displays shifted often, and each day brought new donations, new conversations, and new ideas. Customers didn’t just shop—they lingered, asked questions, shared stories, and often said, “I’ve never seen a thrift store like this.” That curiosity and connection quickly became part of CRAFT’s identity.
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From the beginning, customers also shared how refreshing it was to find fair, truly affordable prices. Many commented that items were priced well below what they expected, especially compared to larger thrift chains. Shoppers frequently mentioned being able to buy what they needed—and a few things they hadn’t planned on—without feeling priced out. For some, it was the first thrift store in a long time that felt approachable, comfortable, and grounded in the original spirit of thrifting: good finds, good people, and reasonable prices.
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As the weeks went on, it became clear that CRAFT was more than a thrift store. People were drawn to the sense of community forming inside the space. Many regulars stopped in not just to shop, but to check in, say hello, and spend time talking with Angela, Wendy, or Keith. Conversations became just as important as the items on the shelves, and CRAFT began to feel like a place where people belonged. Customers often shared that the store felt calm, welcoming, and easy to shop—clean, organized, and never overwhelming.
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With the completion of the Upcycling and Crafting Space in June 2024, CRAFT began slowly exploring what hands-on making could look like within the store. Rather than a rush of crafters, the space became a place of curiosity—regulars stopping by to see what Angela was working on, conversations about projects in progress, and people coming in specifically for free Cricut demos to learn what the machine could do. The crafting space, like the store itself, was often described as comfortable and unintimidating—a place where people could learn without pressure.
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In September, CRAFT welcomed its first member, and in October, the first official workshop—the Creepy Doll Workshop—was held. Since then, membership has continued to grow and additional workshops have been added at a steady, thoughtful pace. Customers regularly shared that the classes and back craft room felt like a great value—accessible, affordable, and genuinely fun.
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As awareness of CRAFT grew, so did the variety of donations coming through the doors. Alongside clothing and household items, community members began donating more craft materials—stamps, yarn, stickers, scrapbooks, fabric, beads, paint, and other creative supplies. Shoppers often commented on the variety, noting how easy it was to find items they would otherwise need to buy new, all at prices that made experimentation possible. Many discovered CRAFT while looking for one item—like a lampshade, glassware, or books—and left with much more, grateful for the quality and pricing.
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During this time, CRAFT joined Reuse Minnesota, strengthening its connection to the broader reuse and sustainability community. On CRAFT’s one-year anniversary, Reuse MN members toured the space as part of their annual members meeting—an affirming moment that reflected what many customers had already been saying: that CRAFT had become a mission-driven community gem centered on reuse, repair, and sustainability.
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Along the way, CRAFT continued to clarify its voice and purpose. This space was never about perfection, trends, or high-end resale. It was about reuse, repurpose, repair, and rethinking value—whether that value comes from a donated item, a creative idea, or an educator who simply needs support. Fair pricing wasn’t just a business decision; it was part of that value system.
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Looking ahead to 2026, CRAFT expanded its hours to better serve both shoppers and makers. Store hours are now 9:00–7:00, with extended evening hours for CRAFT Members until 9:00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights, creating more opportunities for after-work browsing, creativity, and connection. We also changed our name to CRAFT & More Thrift Store to reflect the variety of items we offer, craft supplies, and more!
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Today, CRAFT continues to grow with intention. The workshop calendar reflects both creativity and real-world teaching needs. The store layout continues to evolve. New partnerships and ideas are always being explored. And at the heart of it all remains the same purpose that guided opening day: using this space to sustainably support early childhood educators while offering a thrift experience that feels welcoming, affordable, and rooted in care.
CRAFT is still evolving—and that’s exactly how it’s meant to be. Every donation, workshop, conversation, and shared story shapes what comes next.
We’re grateful for everyone who has walked through the doors so far and excited for what this growing community will continue to create together.