Beanstalk Opens First Louisville Store at Mall St. Matthews

The artisan retailer expands its physical footprint with a new location at 5000 Shelbyville Road.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Local Shops

Beanstalk Opens First Louisville Store at Mall St. Matthews

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Is now a good time for online business owners to expand into physical retail stores?

Local business owners Kara Holbrook and Alex Dunn have launched a new Beanstalk storefront at Mall St. Matthews. The shop features a curated selection of handmade goods, including polymer clay earrings, crystals, and artwork.

Why it matters

The expansion reflects a growing demand for in-person shopping experiences for businesses that initially found success online. By moving into a physical space at Mall St. Matthews, the owners are capitalizing on the center's high foot traffic to reach new local customers.

The new storefront is located at 5000 Shelbyville Road within the Mall St. Matthews complex. The inventory includes diverse items such as candles, incense, handmade hats, chainmail jewelry, and stationery.

The players

Kara Holbrook

Kara Holbrook is the founder of Beanstalk who transitioned her polymer clay earring hobby into a successful multi-city retail brand.

Alex Dunn

Alex Dunn is a co-owner of the Beanstalk retail business that specializes in handmade artisan goods and accessories.

The details

The business grew from an online hobby making polymer clay earrings into a multi-location retailer, with growth fueled by social media engagement on TikTok. The owners utilize the platform to gauge consumer demand before committing to physical retail sites.

2023: Online sales surpassed earnings from full-time employment.
November 2025: The first Beanstalk storefront opened at Fayette Mall.
Mid-October 2026: The Mall St. Matthews store opened to the public.

Culture Shift

Beanstalk's expansion mirrors the digital-native brand retail expansion trend, where businesses move from online platforms to physical spaces to capture in-person consumer interest. This shift highlights how social media engagement successfully bridges the gap between digital hobbyists and brick-and-mortar success.

Residents in the area now have in-person access to the artisan products previously available only through the brand's online store. Shoppers can visit the new Mall St. Matthews location during standard mall operating hours to browse the current stock.

The takeaway

Entrepreneurs can effectively scale a small hobby business by using social media platforms to validate demand before investing in a retail lease. This strategy allows for a data-backed approach to opening physical stores in high-traffic commercial areas.