Creation Station will live on.

Though the retail location for the crafts store and art studio in Lynnwood officially closed on Feb. 23, the owners will continue to operate a mobile service and provide students, teachers and artists with a wide variety of surplus and recycled materials through the company’s website.

The decision to shut down the retail store was bittersweet for owners Frank and Joy Knight. The Knights have operated the store for nine years after purchasing it from the original owner. The store had been in the Lynnwood location for about 18 years.

The Knights want to spend more time with their grandchildren and other family.

“I’m glad for us but am sad for the community,” Frank Knight said of the decision to close the retail location.

In the days leading up to the closing, many customers stopping by for one last visit. People told Knight how much they appreciated the store.

“It’s such an amazing resource for people, for teachers, for kids doing school projects and for artists just because of the randomness,” he said. “Economically it was a good place to visit.”

Creation Station might be best described a unique blend of recycling and retail. Much of the supplies were surplus and recycled materials, though the store did carry some commercial items. Tons of material were diverted from area landfills through the years.

The environmental movement definitely helped Creation Station grow its business.

“Businesses donate material. Some of it is recycled items,” Knight said. “Some were parts that weren’t made right. We get a lot of sample kinds of material from architectural design firms.”

The Knights still plan to be active in the community with the mobile service, which Knight said has taken off in the last three years. Schools and other organizations find it easier for Creation Station to come to them rather than visiting the store, Knight said.

“We are going to continue going out in the community and creating with kids,” Knight said. “We’ll bring recycled materials to the site and let the kids create.”

Knight noted that a young couple in Tacoma is working on opening a store that will be similar to Creation Station. He encourages people to check out the couple’s website at https://tinkertopia.com/.

“They’re just a great young couple,” Knight said. “They’re very dedicated to doing this.”

As for Creation Station, Knight said that the store’s website (https://www.creationstationinc.com) and phone number (425-775-7959) remain the same.