Two Bears Trading Post won’t be the only Native American business in Oak Park Mall come Thursday.

Two Bears owners Kathy Scabby Robe Parnett and Diana Ross will open Spirit Bear Academy, a new and used book store that will also be home to Native American art and cultural classes.

Ross said they were running out of room at Two Bears, so they are opening Spirit Bear next door.

“We had a lot of books, and we knew we had to increase,” Ross said.

Ross said it will now be home to Native American activities they have offered, including leather, beading, art and fur trading classes.

Ross said anyone is welcome. Leather classes are Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., a Native art class will be on Saturdays, and beading classes will start in December.

Ross said mall-goers have been curious.

“It’s going to be fun,” she said. “People have been going by, watching to see what we’re doing.”

Call Two Bears at 507-434-0006 for more information.

See the Austin Daily Herald Sunday print edition for more on how the Spirit Bear Academy owners hope to educate the community on Native American issues.