After several years of selling her products online and at pop-up markets, Samantha Rekas has opened the first physical location for Paper Bunny Press in Ravenswood. The shop, located at 4956 N. Damen Ave., offers a range of stationery items, including greeting cards, stickers, notepads, planners, calendars, magnets, and other goods either designed by Rekas or curated from other artists.
“I personally don’t like to give people cards that are cringy. I’m not a cringe person. I don’t do well with sentimental things. So when I celebrate people’s big moments, it’s definitely with a little twist of sass in it,” Rekas told Block Club.
One of the store’s popular items is the “Happy Birthday Bitch” card featuring a disco ball and cocktail glasses. Rekas said she started designing her own cards because she could not find ones that fit her style: “That’s why I started to design my own cards. Because I couldn’t find something that I would send to people that I love and care about,” she said. “I also will never put anything on the inside of my cards, because I hate those cheesy Hallmark messages that’s like a paragraph of s— you would never say to anyone.”
Rekas began Paper Bunny Press as a side project in 2013 while studying architecture in college and selling custom prints online. She continued this work through graduate school and full-time employment as an architect but found more satisfaction in graphic design than architecture.
“Throughout college and grad school, and then working full time, I maintained my Etsy shop. I mostly did art prints and I enjoyed that way more than working as an architect,” Rekas said.
She explained her interest in architecture began early: “From that point on I did all my science fair projects and history projects on some sort of architecture,” Rekas said. “Then I became an architect, and I started to hate it.”
In 2020, after losing her job as an architect, Rekas decided to focus on her creative business: “After being let go I drank a whole last bottle of wine, filed for unemployment and then the next day I got to work,” she said. ”Thinking like, ‘Well, how can I repurpose this hodgepodge stuff that I was already doing into something that’s more cohesive?’”
Paper Bunny Press launched as an online shop two years later and gained attention through local craft markets such as Markets for Makers, Apple Fest, and Renegade Craft.
“I have a lot of repeat customers at those markets. And a lot of people would always ask, ‘Do you have a store? Do you have a shop?’ And I’m like, ‘No,’” she said.
Previously operating out of an office near Irving Park Road and Ravenswood without direct customer access, Rekas began searching for retail space last year so neighbors could visit the shop directly or attend workshops.
“My office space was 750 square feet. This is just under 500, so it’s a squeeze. I had to get rid of a lot of stuff, but it gave me the opportunity to have this little tiny gift shop,” she said. “I primarily am selling my work and also curating work that also complements my stuff. I love weird, eclectic little trinkets and things.”
The new store opened Wednesday after moving inventory from her old office space earlier this year. While still getting used to walk-in customers at the new location near Winnemac Park, Rekas plans for a grand opening event in summer.
“I don’t plan on ever selling anything over $50,” she said. “I want people to walk in with $10 or $20 and be able to buy a handful of products.”
Looking ahead, Rekas hopes to organize creative workshops focused on crafts such as junk journaling or candle making once she settles into running the storefront.
For additional information about Paper Bunny Press or upcoming events at the store location in Ravenswood, visitors can check its website or social media channels.
