Local Mom Opens Genesis to Bring Fabric & Goods Closer to Home
Back-to-school options and home accessories aren’t abounding in the city of New Paris. A small town, New Paris is mostly known for its beautiful landscapes and tight-knit community. That same community is often faced with journeys up to 10 to 15 miles in a horse and buggy to purchase basic necessities. Local native, Eva Hochstetler, has made it her goal to change that for nearby families.
Hochstetler’s store, Genesis, recently opened in March of 2025 and, as the name implies, it’s been the start of a new beginning for Hochstetler, her family and others in the surrounding area. Now, New Paris families have a go-to place to purchase clothing and other items, and that place, is Genesis.
“New Paris is just a small town with people who care for each other,” she says. “I grew up in New Paris and I like working with and serving the people that I grew up with.”
A mother of three, Hochstetler never figured herself for a business owner. In fact, she describes herself as just about the farthest thing from an entrepreneur. Her husband, Marion, keeps his days full as the owner of Laser Construction. With an already bustling household, opening a business seemed like a pipe dream. But the extended drive to the nearest fabric store was a good motivator to provide an option closer to home.
Still, she struggled with the decision. She found herself questioning whether she could manage a store alongside her daily duties as mom and wife. Despite the obstacles, Hochstetler knew she could solve the problem for New Paris and surrounding communities. So she opened the doors to Genesis.
“A lot of people don’t realize how much I struggled with the decision to open Genesis,” she says. “With a full house and construction business, we are busy. But there was a definite need in our area and the feeling that God was guiding us in this direction never fully went away.”
Right now, Hochstetler is in full-on, back-to-school mode. She has stocked Genesis with plenty of pants and dress fabrics so that customers can peruse multiple options for school attire. Her shelves are also filled with several types of knit fabrics and, due to high demand, Genesis now offers printed fabric. To make sure every customer has the exact fit they want, families can purchase precise cuts of fabric. In particular, Hochstetler’s daughter loves a knit fabric called Swiss Dot, requesting a dress in every color as part of her school-year wardrobe.
In addition to fabrics, Genesis also sells a variety of items from community-area talent, including handmade wares, local finds, Amish goods, sewing notions, gifting services and Main Street Roasters Coffee, an artisan coffee shop out of Nappanee.
Other customer favorites include inspirational canvases from Heartland Wholesale, baby items including apparel, toys and accessories, locally crafted soy candles, handmade goat’s milk bar soap, herbal tinctures, Bramble and Thyme freeze-dried fruits and candies, along with a selection of Sisel International products.
Hochstetler doesn’t plan to stop there. She hopes that she can expand her selections in the near future as money and time allows, adding even more sewing notions and locally sourced wares to her offerings.
She is also taking steps to help support nearby communities and raise awareness for her store. Recently, she sponsored the lady’s version of the Home Extension at the Elkhart County Fair.
But mostly, Hochstetler takes pride in her ability to give families choices on curating items for their home that will add local flavor and a personal touch.
You can find Genesis located at 69616 County Road 127 in New Paris. For more information, visit genesisfabric.com.
