Mitrebox Framing Studio

This North Loop, small business custom framing shop is big on service, quality & supporting the arts community!
Not only do they offer framing options to your hearts content, but they are known for their amazing selection of letterpress cards, handmade jewlery and other unique gifts.
Mitrebox also offers local artist the chance to display (and sell) their artwork in both storefront windows (on bust Washington Ave.) and throughout the shop!
The resident shop dog, Henry, is pretty darn adorable too!
Highly recommend for any framing, gift or art needs!

The staff was very helpful and courteous there-​I had several pieces framed there and they did a great job on them. Would definitely go back! A little pricey but worth it to me. Cool choices for your art work and many nice gift items there as well.

I love the written word, and I adore finding cards that are unique to the receiver. Whether it is a love message, a birthday wish, a note to say thanks or just a card to say hello, I am constantly on the hunt for spots that offer a variety of options. The ultimate? Letterpress cards. Swoon…
Mitrebox is inviting, affordable, and has a great vibe. It also happens to be within walking distance of my office, which means I am never far from the perfect card. They carry fantastic merchandise including a huge inventory of cards for every occasion and in perfect style (think Etsy, not the card aisle at Target!) They also have gift options like candles, note pads, gift wrap and home décor.
BONUS: They offer a punch card — buy 9 cards and the 10^th is free!
I did work with the owners, Mary & Sara, on a framing project for a client at my former office. There were a few hiccups on both ends, but the final project was beautiful, and they were a pleasure to work with.
Overall, this is my go-​to spot for cards. I have never left empty-​handed!

Although I’ve moved out of the North Loop neighborhood, Mitrebox is still my go-​to spot for great framing work. Yes, it’s expensive, but if I didn’t want my art and prints to look good, I could tape them up on the wall like I was still living in a dorm room. I have always worked with Sara, and she never fails to find creative and lovely options for me to choose from. Plus the house dog is pretty adorable.
I am also a huge fan of their gifty stuff at the front of the store. I’m a paper freak, and I think they have some of the best cards in town. Overall, two thumbs up!

I have had several items framed here and they have always done an amazing job. I highly recommend Mitrebox Framing Studio!

Mitrebox is my first and only choice for framing art! I have been using their services since it’s inception… 1996? Mitrebox has framed two of my favorite greeting cards, a special calendar page photo, a poster, a couple of giclees, and various family pictures. Each piece looks like authentic art! Sara and Mary take special care with the original order. They also check final products for finger prints and imperfections prior to delivery to me. Awesome! So happy with their work!
Mitrebox has also framed some large works of art for me. Sara recently helped me reframe a painting that was a gift to my grandparents on their wedding day in 1916. She was careful while handling my art, and the finished product is fantastic! She was aware of my budget and worked with it. This painting is now a beautifully framed heirloom.
I simply cannot say enough about the creativity, vision, and care that Sara and Mary employ. Quality work and fine craftsmanship! Can’t beat Mirebox Framing Studio!

When I lived here in the mid-90’s, I worked at a little ad agency in the warehouse district. There were some very talented designers working there. Take a little mental time-​travel back to 1994. This was a time when not everyone had a home computer, Quark was just becoming popular and designers often worked with actual paper. It was a much more tactile era in design. One of those talented designers was Mary, now of Mitrebox. I popped over for Cupcake Saturday and immediately loved the space. It is so warm and welcoming. I love the dark wood, tin ceiling and wrought iron staircase. I was immediately struck by the giant wall of frame choices and the huge framing table. I then started to notice the cool Adam Turman screenprints on the wall and the nice selection of letterpress cards (YEA, letterpress!). As I wandered back toward the cupcakes, a friendly voice asked if she could help me. Imagine my surprise to see that it was my former co-​worker, who I had not seen in over 15 years. What wasn’t a surprise was to find out that such a talented gal had gone off and combined her love of graphic and interior design in such a great business venture. Her partner, Sara, was working with a couple on a really cool quilt-​framing project when I was there. I am going to have to dig around my place to find something worthy of one of their frames!

Greeting cards and custom framing just aren’t really my thing. Yet, I’ve still been to Mitrebox — for the cupcakes, of course.
Mitrebox is one of those really cool, small, independent shops that the Twin Cities needs more of. Owned by a couple of ladies who know how to rock a frame and design a retail space, Mitrebox’s walls are clad in wood frames, art and fun. Like I said, I’m not a gift shop kind of guy, but this place rawks.
All that said, it’s Sheela Namakkal’s cupcakes that first drew me to Mitrebox. Sheela’s been baking sweet little creative cakes for several years now under the name of her catering company, Miel y Leche Catering. Saturdays you can find her cupcakes at Mitrebox — but get there early. I’ve seen lines out the door of people waiting to get their hands on her ‘cakes. Doors at 10am — ‘cakes gone by noon. Guaranteed.
My fave cupcake of hers is the Elvis — a banana cake topped with peanut butter frosting and a slab of bacon — this sweet, salty and creamy little cupcake is AMAZING. For the vegans out there, Sheela always makes some ‘cakes just for you — and they’re equally delicious.
Mitrebox gets it. It’s not just the frames people want from their shop, it’s the experience. Even if you’re not there to buy their main product, they’ll get you in the door. And you’ll find some sweet stuff there, every time.

I learned of this wonderful studio when Letterbox closed & Mitrebox took up Sheela Namakkal’s Cupcake Saturday. Yep, I follow the cupcakes.
While I have never availed myself of Sara & Mary’s framing services (my wallet is too small for anything but IKEA frames) I have seen them in action & the caliber of their work is high. They are also wonderfully nice people, which I think is always a plus when handing over to strangers something you care about.
Even if you’re not in the market for framing you can visit for the unique gifts they have available, as well as work by local artists displayed in their windows & around the shop.

Holy bananas, how have I lived in this neighborhood for two years and not been in here before today? Mitrebox is primarily a framing studio, but there’s also a gift shop in the front of the store that sells letterpress cards and other unique trinkets. I stopped in to pick up a simple thank you note, and walked out with $ 26 in cards. They are just too awesome to pass up, and I know I’ll use them (eventually). The designs are little pieces of art in and of themselves, and there’s something for every possible occasion. This place actually makes me want to piss someone off, just so I can buy one of the hilarious «I’m sorry» cards. Oh, and the woman who rang me up was super friendly, and had the radio turned to the Current. Yeah, I’m in love with this place.

This is the current address for this business — the 3^rd St. address is nearly 3 years gone according to Sara, one of the owners.
What a great space with such beautiful things displayed so nicely! Unusual greeting cards, invitations, notebooks, old timey looking postcards showing scenes of each of our Twin Cities and our lovely state, exquisite-​smelling soy candles, decorative hooks, satin ribbon, delightful wrapping papers, imported soaps (including an «egg» facial soap from Sweden that I found particulary interesting), and very beautiful and ready to use frames and a few mattes. And, although I did not browse through their (likely) endless selection of framing and matte materials, I’m willing to be they got it all. At a price. Despite my delight over all the great items they had for sale, I’m dismayed that there were no ‘real’ bargains to be had, even in their ½ off baskets. Fortunately, browsing is free and I got quite an experience of all things delightful.