Big Fab Lab, a maker space in Bowling Green, Ohio, officially closed its doors on October 1 after nearly a decade of operation. Founded by Mark Bowlus, the lab provided local engineers and students with access to special equipment for rapid prototyping, such as 3D printers and laser cutters.

The closure was caused by many factors, including the auction of the Woodland Mall, where the lab was located, the financial difficulties of keeping up with a maker space business model and a significant decrease in memberships throughout the pandemic.

“COVID really took a lot of wind out of our sails,” Bowlus said.

Bowlus also highlighted the increase of local schools and libraries creating their own maker spaces weakened demand for Big Fab  Lab’s services, marking the end of an era for the community hub.

Despite efforts to rebuild, the space faced continuous difficulties in maintaining stable revenue.

Equipment and tools from the closure will be auctioned over the course of the next few weeks.