Our Story

---

Before launching Lakeshore Sewing in 1973, Chuck Collins worked in the shoe industry and managed a Meijer Thrifty Acres store. He got experience with sewing machines and an appreciation for the sewing industry while working for City Sewing Center of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and he decided he wanted to pursue his dream and open a sewing machine store of his own. He and his wife, Donna, started small, partnering with Gene Boyd and Ray Muir, who already owned a store called LAKESHORE SEWING in Holland, Michigan. Chuck and Donna opened a store with that name on Apple Avenue at Quarterline Road in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1975, Gene opened a third Lakeshore Sewing store on Savidge Street in Spring Lake, Michigan. In 1977 Chuck and Donna bought out the partners and acquired the Holland store. Two years later they opened a store on South Division at 32nd Street in Grand Rapids.

After Chuck passed away in 2001 and Donna retired, their sons Brian and Matthew took over the company. In 2006 Mathew closed the Muskegon and Holland locations in order to take up a career in the financial industry. Brian moved the Grand Rapids store to Gezon Parkway in Wyoming and opened an additional store on the East Beltline at Knapp’s Corner. In 2015 he added a third location on Sherman Avenue in Muskegon. In order to better serve Lakeshore customers, Brian consolidated the Knapp’s Corner and Wyoming locations in 2019. Lakeshore Sewing is proud to remain a family-owned, premier sewing center with strong community ties throughout West Michigan.