the common thread yarn shop and cafe will open in the seaboard crossing plaza in st. pete’s warehouse arts district | st. pete rising

A cozy new yarn shop and coffee shop is weaving its way into the Warehouse Arts District this summer.

The Common Thread is opening this August at 2462 5th Avenue South, in the location that previously housed HaleLife Bakery and Bistro, and before that, The Chelsea coffee shop.

Nicole Potts Hart of KW Commercial represented both O’Brien and the property owner in the lease transaction.

Founder Shannon O’Brien, a longtime crocheter and San Francisco transplant who made St. Pete her permanent home in 2022, had been searching for a local yarn shop in St. Pete.

“I've been dreaming about this for the past year, waiting for someone to open a local yarn shop, but no one did,” O’Brien told St. Pete Rising. “I also believe people could use more third spaces: places that aren’t home or work, where people can slow down, connect, and create.”

So she decided to take matters into her own hands and create The Common Thread.

The common thread Founder Shannon O’Brien | Instagram image

“It will be a bright, welcoming space with all the yarn and supplies you need, plus big community tables and a small café. We're creating a place where people can make things, get comfortable, and connect, even if it's just over a cup of coffee,” O’Brien said.

The interior will feature a minimalist white aesthetic, with vibrant bundles of yarn adding color across the walls.

Inspired by fellow millennial-owned Cleo’s Yarn Shop in Brooklyn and determined to bring a modern twist to the traditional yarn store, The Common Thread will offer high-quality yarn sourced from Japan and other international suppliers, along with yarn from indie dyers based in Florida.

Patrons will be able to pick up exclusive yarn colorways, including one specially created by Swan City Yarns in Lakeland for the The Common Thread’s debut.

The shop will also carry tools and accessories like metal and wooden needles, trendy patterns, and unique notions.

“A lot of people think, ‘Yarn in Florida? You’ll be sweating!’ But there are plenty of lightweight, breathable fibers to choose from, such as silk, linen, eucalyptus, and hemp,” said O’Brien.

Caffeine lovers can enjoy drinks from a full espresso bar featuring beans from local roaster Look Alive Coffee, which is also assisting with bar design, coffee programming, and staff training.

The Common Thread yarn shop and cafe is working with local roaster look alive coffee | Instagram image

The menu will include classic matcha and espresso-based drinks with seasonal variations. O’Brien also plans to introduce herbal teas and mushroom-based coffee alternatives.

The café will offer a fridge stocked with kombucha, beer, and wine.

O’Brien is also seeking a partnership with a woman-owned bakery to provide croissants and other pastries.

The 800-square-foot building features a garage door that O’Brien plans to roll up during cooler months, opening up into a large outdoor patio that will host craft fairs and markets.

The Common Thread will also host drop-in stitch circles, open studio sessions, classes, and other creative events.

Following the grand opening, O’Brien will introduce a paid membership program, where members can enjoy perks like in-store discounts, after-hours social events, free coffee, consignment opportunities, and more.

“Our goal is to create a consistent core group of crafters,” said O’Brien.