ST. LOUIS PARK, MN — A St. Louis Park yarn shop has pulled all of its Harry Potter merchandise and publicly apologized to customers for selling kits themed around the best-selling book series.
Needle & Skein, a knitting and crochet shop on Excelsior Boulevard, posted the apology on Facebook Monday under the heading "Note from our shop to our community."
"We recently sold Harry Potter themed kits, and we owe you a sincere apology," the post begins.
The post's author, who described herself as a mom but did not give her name, wrote that she reads the books aloud to her child. She said the warmth of those memories kept her from considering "what carrying this merchandise would mean for our trans friends, neighbors, and customers."
"I made a mistake, and I'm so sorry," she wrote.
The shop said it has removed every Harry Potter item from its shelves. It also pledged to give all proceeds from the kits it sold to Point of Pride.
The post thanked those who "spoke up" about the kits, but it did not say how many people raised concerns or how long the kits were on sale. By Tuesday morning, it had drawn more than 1,400 comments and nearly 160 shares.
The apology did not mention J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. The franchise has faced boycott calls and protests from some trans rights advocates since 2020, when Rowling began speaking out on gender identity in remarks critics have called transphobic. Rowling has stood by her views, saying women's rights depend on legal protections rooted in biological sex.
The shop closed the post: "With love and humility, the team at needle & skein."
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
St. Louis Park Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.