It was 1999 when Robert and Sandra Ciszek opened the doors to Betsy’s Yarn and Tea Shop. The store, named for their daughter, was originally opened to sell the crafts that Sandra and her peers had started making for local markets and fairs, in addition to a variety of yarn, tea and candles. From the beginning, Sandra wanted Betsy’s to be a place where crafters could gather, build community and take knit and crochet classes no matter their skill level. Because of her magnetic personality and ability to make everyone feel welcome, the store grew as more and more people joined classes to learn from Sandra’s expansive fiber arts knowledge. Soon, Betsy’s outgrew the original storefront and moved to its current location in the spring of 2009.

Today, Betsy’s remains a staple in the Lockport community and is still a place for friends and strangers alike to meet and share their creativity.