For 70 years, Binders Art Supplies and Frames has been more than a shop. It’s been one of Atlanta’s creative clubhouses. Founded by the Krinsky brothers in 1955, Binders has passed through generations to Howard Krinsky, who has spent his entire career behind its counters and now stands as part of the city’s cultural fabric himself.
For Krinsky, the anniversary isn’t about one big splash but the everyday work of keeping a family business—and its connections—alive. He’s watched generations of Atlantas, after all, come through the doors as students then return as working artists, sometimes bringing their kids to buy crafts and supplies.
When talking about Binders and its impact on the Southeast’s creative scene, Krinsky is warm, humble, and reflective, quick to credit Atlanta’s artists for sustaining Binders as much as the other way around.
Seventy years is a milestone. What stands out most when you look back?
Howard Krinsky: The biggest thing is that we’re still here. Retail is tough. The fact that we’ve endured says a lot—not just about Binders but about Atlanta. In New York City, there are no independent art supply stores left to speak of. Here, we probably have the most per area. That speaks to the community.
You said Atlanta is unusually strong for independents. Why here?
Atlanta has grown by leaps and bounds, with lots of creative people moving here. Cost of living has probably helped, too. In New York, rents got too high.
Binders is a third-generation business. Give us the origin story.
My father and uncle, Mo and Joe, came to Atlanta in 1946 and opened Mo and Joe’s Bar in Virginia-Highland … from beer to art supplies. Instead of going into real estate, they bought Binders Gift and Frame, a frame and gift shop that had been around since the turn of the century. No art supplies then. A traveling salesman came by with paint, they added it, and that started the art-supply side. I’ve been in the business for more than 40 years. My brother and cousin were in it, too. Now my daughter, Hannah, has joined, handling marketing, social media, and events.
“The biggest thing is that we’re still here. Retail is tough. The fact that we’ve endured says a lot—not just about Binders but about Atlanta.”
Binders art Supplies and frames owner, Howard Krinsky
Community partnerships have been a Binders hallmark. What are you proudest of?
In the early 2000s, business was changing. My cousin and I decided to get out in the community. We went to schools and art leagues asking, “What can we do for you?” Out of that came relationships—gift cards, prizes, support. When SCAD came to Atlanta in 2005, we built a strong relationship and started the Binders Art Supply Scholarship. It’s awarded annually to a student, about $2,500. That’s special because we built it from nothing.
You’ve said the store’s staff culture is part of the Binder’s secret sauce.
Our staff are artists. What you see in the store goes beyond the cash register. You see interaction, sharing, encouragement. They’re talking about projects, giving advice, celebrating successes. That doesn’t happen in normal retail.
Tell us about the new mural project tied to the anniversary.
Atlanta has really become a mural city. We already have a large mural outside, an ode to the disco era, that’s become iconic. People take pictures in front of it all the time. We’ve been in this Buckhead location since 2004, and we need a facelift. The new mural will be inside, above the stairs. We want it to encompass art, give us a fresh look, and maybe tell the history of Binders. We put out an open call, and artists will bring their own ideas. The deadline is Sept. 15, though we might extend it.
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Retail has reinvented itself repeatedly. How has Binders adapted?
We’ve faced the same challenges as any retailer—the internet, Amazon. We lost some business, but artists want that connection, and I’ve seen a resurgence of people coming in. Years ago, when the Mac came out, we even sold computers for graphic design. In the ’80s and ’90s we had a big commercial side—selling to ad agencies, delivering to Home Depot’s art department. When computers changed that, a lot of businesses like ours went under. The retail side saved us. Today, social media helps us connect. We post fun things, not just sales, and people come in saying, “I saw you on Instagram.”
What’s next?
There’s no clear path. Things change, technology changes, but we have to keep making connections. Retail transactions online are faceless. We fight that trend by being genuine. That’s what’s kept us here.
You shared a story that captures your father’s impact. Will you tell it again?
A man named Alan came in. He’d worked at Binders in high school in the 1960s before going to Rhode Island School of Design. My dad asked him to sell supplies to students up there. Alan put himself through college doing that, kept in touch with my dad every week, and later built a successful career in documentary film. When he retired and moved back to Atlanta, he came in to thank us. I never knew that story. That’s the essence of a family business.
Binders Art Supplies and Frames celebrates 70 years with an indoor mural commission (open call closes Sept. 15). The Binders Art Supply Scholarship at SCAD supports emerging artists annually. Find the Buckhead store, classes, and updates at bindersart.com.