Penny shortage threatens completion of Provo business's unique floor project

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

A penny shortage threatens The Collective Underground's unique penny floor project.
Owner Chris Yorgason faces challenges as banks limit penny exchanges to $5.
Despite setbacks Yorgason remains committed to completing the meaningful project.

PROVO — As the U.S. Mint winds down production of the penny, one local business finds itself in a race against time to complete a project where the humble coin takes center stage.

At The Collective Underground, a consignment store known for bridging the gap between thrift and boutique, owner Chris Yorgason had a vision: a floor made entirely of pennies. What began as a nostalgic nod to his childhood has now become a logistical challenge.

"It just needed something new," Yorgason said. "And I thought, why don't we do a penny floor? I've always wanted to do something like that."

Chris Yorgason, owner of The Collective Underground consignment store in Provo, talks to KSL on Monday about plans for a floor made entirely of pennies. (Photo: Nathaniel Gillis, KSL-TV)

The idea was inspired by his grandfather, who introduced him to coin collecting when he was a child.

"My grandpa was really into coins," Yorgason recalled. "He got me a little book, and I was able to collect 1945, 1947— and I just kept collecting."

But collecting pennies for the floor at 26 W. Center Street has proven more difficult than expected. Things were going fine until a couple of weeks ago, when banks started turning them away. Many financial institutions now impose a $5 limit on penny exchanges, making it harder to source the thousands needed for the project.

Despite the setback, the team remains committed. Zac Daley, one of the employees helping with the installation, has been meticulously placing each coin by hand.

The Collective Underground consignment store in Provo will feature a floor made entirely of pennies, shown here on Monday. (Photo: Nathaniel Gillis, KSL-TV)

"This might be one of the last penny floors ever made," Daley said.

For Yorgason, the project is more than just a design choice.

"It's totally a full-circle moment," he said. "It's special to me — something I did with my grandpa. It's pretty meaningful to me, and I think it can be meaningful to the community as well."

Once completed, the floor will be sealed in resin, preserving the pennies — and the memories — for years to come. Yorgason believes he has just enough coins to finish the job, a small victory in the face of a disappearing currency.

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