She turned an empty Joann into her dream creative fest

The old Joann fabric store at the Del Amo Fashion Center mall in Torrance, California, will reopen for a weekend this month–but not as a retailer. Starting June 27, the space will host Open House Creative Fest, an artisan market and workshop series organized by Lauren Tetef, a 40-year-old events producer.

Tetef saved roughly $24,000 over several months to fund the event. She was laid off in August from a corporate marketing job she started in March, a stint cut short when tariff policy hit the import-heavy business. "It was a good opportunity for me to figure something out: What do I do next?" she said.

Admission is free for browsing and shopping from about 25 vendors. An activity passport, starting at $40, buys entry to each booth's hands-on workshop. A florist will guide visitors on arranging dried flowers onto greeting cards. A clothing vendor plans to teach keychain-making from upcycled selvage material. The passport also grants access to an "activity garden" stocked with fabric, paper, paints and other supplies.

"As an attendee, you get a little taste of what somebody does," Tetef said. "You get to sit down and metaphorically break bread with them, have a conversation with them, get to know them. And by doing that, you're so much more invested in their business."