Beads N Things
Beads N Things at Northfield Common is a craft and jewelry supply shop serving Pittsford's creative community — beads, findings, wire, and the supplies needed to make jewelry and craft projects from scratch. A specialty resource that serves both hobbyists and serious jewelry makers in the village and across Rochester.
Overview
Beads 'N Things operated as a family-owned bead and jewelry supply shop at 50 State Street in Pittsford, NY for 55 years before closing its physical storefront in August 2023. Founded in 1968, the shop passed through three owners over its lifetime. Sheila Grabowski took ownership on November 1, 1984, and her daughter Ann joined as a partner in 2008 after a 12-year career at Xerox. Together they ran the Northfield Common location until the lease ended in the summer of 2023.
The business has transitioned to an online-only model through MyBeadKit.com, which launched in July 2014 while the brick-and-mortar shop was still operating. The original website at beadsnthings-ny.com now redirects to that online storefront.
What They Offer
During its decades in Pittsford, Beads 'N Things provided a full range of jewelry-making supplies and services:
- Beads, findings, wire, and jewelry-making components
- Jewelry repair and restringing
- Custom jewelry creation
- In-store classes for beginner through advanced skill levels
The inventory evolved over the years — at one point expanding into broader crafting supplies before returning to a bead-focused selection based on customer demand. The online continuation through MyBeadKit.com carries DIY jewelry-making kits at various skill levels, including bracelet kits, necklace kits, pearl jewelry kits, and specialty kits featuring glass beads, crystals, leather, and semi-precious stones.
Known For
Beads 'N Things was one of the Rochester area's longest-running specialty bead shops, with a 55-year presence that made it a fixture for the local jewelry-making community. The shop served both hobbyists picking up their first stringing project and experienced artisans sourcing specific findings and components. The in-store classes, born from hands-on instruction at the Northfield Common location, became the foundation for the MyBeadKit.com line of guided jewelry kits.
Location & Neighborhood
The former storefront sits at 50 State Street in Northfield Common, a small commercial center in the Village of Pittsford along the Erie Canal corridor. Northfield Common is within walking distance of the Schoen Place waterfront area and the village's Main Street shops. Note that the physical store closed in August 2023; the business continues online at MyBeadKit.com.
Sources used in compiling this entry