AVA, Ill. (KFVS) – A Heartland business will celebrate their 60th anniversary this weekend.
Ava Craft Center 2.0 SEMO brings people out for food, drink, good conversation and to see what the company has to offer.
Since 1962, they have been making rugs made from upcycled fabric made from antique floor rugs.
The business began in Ava, Illinois, spanning four generations.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Ava Craft Center owner Lori Yount. “We are happy to share the art of weaving and the history of weaving, so our focus here today is to share the history of these knits, their origins and how they have impacted small communities and what they have. Throughout the ages.”
Yont said their business has survived many challenges over the past six decades, even moving locations from Ava, Illinois to Burfordville, Missouri.
“Every place we’ve been, whether it’s been in Illinois or here, we’ve been placed in a small community,” Yount said. “When you’re in a community, it can be in tough times, but when you’re in a small community, when people bond together and come back to Illinois, our storefront is not there right now, and people from Illinois still come back. Here and support us.
She said she appreciates the support of customers over the years.
“The support you get from your friends and family and those around you from your past is amazing,” Yount said. “It’s a great feeling that you have so much support.”
Nancy Amsden took a trip down to visit with the staff on her 60th birthday. She said it’s great to see this business continue and grow over the years.
“With everything this family has been through, you see very few businesses that have passed,” Amsden said. “And for it to be alive and for generations to be alive and interested. This is a craft from ancient times, many years ago.
Ava Craft Center has made the trip to many people from different states of the country.
“I personally had no idea how far even our little page would reach,” Yont said. We had people from Indiana, Illinois and the surrounding area at our event today. I even had a carpet weaver from New York, Georgia for our carpet weaving class. People came from far away and participated in this business with us.
The owners invited some early historians from Texas as special guests to talk about the event.
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