diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/index.ts b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/index.ts
index c76c3c2..d0535aa 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/index.ts
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/index.ts
@@ -1,21 +1,21 @@
 export { mapAppliedFiltersToParams } from './lib';
 
 export {
-    appliedFilterStore,
-    /**
-     * Filter Store
-     */
-    availableFilterStore,
     /**
      * Filter Manager
      */
     createAppliedFilterStore,
+    /**
+     * Lazy store accessors
+     */
+    getAppliedFilterStore,
+    getAvailableFilterStore,
+    getSortStore,
     /**
      * Sort Store
      */
     SORT_MAP,
     SORT_OPTIONS,
-    sortStore,
     startFilterBindings,
 } from './model';
 
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/index.ts b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/index.ts
index 49ad32a..6dcafff 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/index.ts
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/index.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ export type {
  */
 export {
     /**
-     * Low-level property selection store
+     * Lazy accessor for the app-wide filter-metadata store
      */
-    availableFilterStore,
+    getAvailableFilterStore,
 } from './store/availableFilterStore/availableFilterStore.svelte';
 
 /**
@@ -27,14 +27,14 @@ export {
      * Reactive interface returned by `createAppliedFilterStore`
      */
     type AppliedFilterStore,
-    /**
-     * High-level manager for syncing search and filters
-     */
-    appliedFilterStore,
     /**
      * Factory for constructing a filter manager instance
      */
     createAppliedFilterStore,
+    /**
+     * Lazy accessor for the app-wide filter manager
+     */
+    getAppliedFilterStore,
 } from './store/appliedFilterStore/appliedFilterStore.svelte';
 
 /**
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ export { startFilterBindings } from './store/bindings.svelte';
  * Sorting logic
  */
 export {
+    /**
+     * Lazy accessor for the app-wide sort store
+     */
+    getSortStore,
     /**
      * Map of human-readable labels to API sort keys
      */
@@ -63,8 +67,4 @@ export {
      * UI model for a single sort option
      */
     type SortOption,
-    /**
-     * Reactive store for the current sort selection
-     */
-    sortStore,
 } from './store/sortStore/sortStore.svelte';
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/appliedFilterStore/appliedFilterStore.svelte.ts b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/appliedFilterStore/appliedFilterStore.svelte.ts
index 11a65cc..522dd3d 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/appliedFilterStore/appliedFilterStore.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/appliedFilterStore/appliedFilterStore.svelte.ts
@@ -129,14 +129,23 @@ export function createAppliedFilterStore<TValue extends string>(config: FilterCo
 
 export type AppliedFilterStore = ReturnType<typeof createAppliedFilterStore>;
 
+let _appliedFilterStore: AppliedFilterStore | undefined;
+
 /**
- * App-wide filter manager singleton.
+ * App-wide filter manager, created on first access.
  *
  * Constructed with empty groups; the availableFilterStore → appliedFilterStore wiring
  * lives in `./bindings.svelte` and populates groups once backend filter
  * metadata arrives.
  */
-export const appliedFilterStore = createAppliedFilterStore({
-    queryValue: '',
-    groups: [],
-});
+export function getAppliedFilterStore(): AppliedFilterStore {
+    return (_appliedFilterStore ??= createAppliedFilterStore<string>({
+        queryValue: '',
+        groups: [],
+    }));
+}
+
+// test-only reset, so specs don't share filter/selection state
+export function __resetAppliedFilterStore() {
+    _appliedFilterStore = undefined;
+}
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/availableFilterStore/availableFilterStore.svelte.ts b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/availableFilterStore/availableFilterStore.svelte.ts
index 7eff164..265b153 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/availableFilterStore/availableFilterStore.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/availableFilterStore/availableFilterStore.svelte.ts
@@ -126,7 +126,18 @@ export class AvailableFilterStore {
     }
 }
 
+let _availableFilterStore: AvailableFilterStore | undefined;
+
 /**
- * Singleton instance
+ * App-wide filter-metadata store, created on first access. Lazy so the
+ * QueryObserver isn't constructed at module load.
  */
-export const availableFilterStore = new AvailableFilterStore();
+export function getAvailableFilterStore(): AvailableFilterStore {
+    return (_availableFilterStore ??= new AvailableFilterStore());
+}
+
+// test-only reset, so specs don't share a live observer
+export function __resetAvailableFilterStore() {
+    _availableFilterStore?.destroy();
+    _availableFilterStore = undefined;
+}
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/bindings.svelte.ts b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/bindings.svelte.ts
index 537d5d8..f5491bb 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/bindings.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/bindings.svelte.ts
@@ -13,11 +13,15 @@ import { getFontCatalog } from '$entities/Font/model';
 import { untrack } from 'svelte';
 import { mapAppliedFiltersToParams } from '../../lib/mapper/mapAppliedFiltersToParams';
 import { mapFilterMetadataToGroups } from '../../lib/mapper/mapFilterMetadataToGroups';
-import { appliedFilterStore } from './appliedFilterStore/appliedFilterStore.svelte';
-import { availableFilterStore } from './availableFilterStore/availableFilterStore.svelte';
-import { sortStore } from './sortStore/sortStore.svelte';
+import { getAppliedFilterStore } from './appliedFilterStore/appliedFilterStore.svelte';
+import { getAvailableFilterStore } from './availableFilterStore/availableFilterStore.svelte';
+import { getSortStore } from './sortStore/sortStore.svelte';
 
 export function startFilterBindings(): () => void {
+    const appliedFilterStore = getAppliedFilterStore();
+    const availableFilterStore = getAvailableFilterStore();
+    const sortStore = getSortStore();
+
     const stop = $effect.root(() => {
         $effect(() => {
             const dynamicFilters = availableFilterStore.filters;
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/sortStore/sortStore.svelte.ts b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/sortStore/sortStore.svelte.ts
index 3a8908f..5d2a8ca 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/sortStore/sortStore.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/sortStore/sortStore.svelte.ts
@@ -44,4 +44,18 @@ export function createSortStore(initial: SortOption = 'Popularity') {
     };
 }
 
-export const sortStore = createSortStore();
+export type SortStore = ReturnType<typeof createSortStore>;
+
+let _sortStore: SortStore | undefined;
+
+/**
+ * App-wide sort store, created on first access.
+ */
+export function getSortStore(): SortStore {
+    return (_sortStore ??= createSortStore());
+}
+
+// test-only reset, so specs don't share selection state
+export function __resetSortStore() {
+    _sortStore = undefined;
+}
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/sortStore/sortStore.test.ts b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/sortStore/sortStore.test.ts
index fcdc41b..b78cbc8 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/sortStore/sortStore.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/model/store/sortStore/sortStore.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {
+    afterEach,
     describe,
     expect,
     it,
@@ -7,8 +8,9 @@ import {
     SORT_MAP,
     SORT_OPTIONS,
     type SortOption,
+    __resetSortStore,
     createSortStore,
-    sortStore,
+    getSortStore,
 } from './sortStore.svelte';
 
 describe('createSortStore', () => {
@@ -51,14 +53,24 @@ describe('createSortStore', () => {
     });
 });
 
-describe('sortStore singleton', () => {
+describe('getSortStore singleton', () => {
+    afterEach(() => {
+        __resetSortStore();
+    });
+
+    it('returns the same instance across calls', () => {
+        expect(getSortStore()).toBe(getSortStore());
+    });
+
     it('exposes the same shape as a factory instance', () => {
+        const sortStore = getSortStore();
         expect(typeof sortStore.value).toBe('string');
         expect(typeof sortStore.apiValue).toBe('string');
         expect(typeof sortStore.set).toBe('function');
     });
 
     it('accepts all SORT_OPTIONS as valid set() inputs', () => {
+        const sortStore = getSortStore();
         for (const option of SORT_OPTIONS) {
             sortStore.set(option);
             expect(sortStore.value).toBe(option);
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/Filters/Filters.svelte b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/Filters/Filters.svelte
index b993c48..ec993d9 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/Filters/Filters.svelte
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/Filters/Filters.svelte
@@ -4,10 +4,13 @@
 -->
 <script lang="ts">
 import { FilterGroup } from '$shared/ui';
-import { appliedFilterStore } from '../../model';
+import { getAppliedFilterStore } from '../../model';
+
+const appliedFilterStore = getAppliedFilterStore();
+const groups = $derived(appliedFilterStore.groups);
 </script>
 
-{#each appliedFilterStore.groups as group (group.id)}
+{#each groups as group (group.id)}
     <FilterGroup
         displayedLabel={group.label}
         filter={group.instance}
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/Filters/Filters.svelte.test.ts b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/Filters/Filters.svelte.test.ts
index 0ef079f..096ac64 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/Filters/Filters.svelte.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/Filters/Filters.svelte.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import {
-    appliedFilterStore,
-    availableFilterStore,
+    getAppliedFilterStore,
+    getAvailableFilterStore,
 } from '$features/FilterAndSortFonts';
 import {
     render,
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ import Filters from './Filters.svelte';
 describe('Filters', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
         // Clear groups and mock availableFilterStore to be empty so the auto-sync effect doesn't overwrite us
-        appliedFilterStore.setGroups([]);
-        vi.spyOn(availableFilterStore, 'filters', 'get').mockReturnValue([]);
+        getAppliedFilterStore().setGroups([]);
+        vi.spyOn(getAvailableFilterStore(), 'filters', 'get').mockReturnValue([]);
     });
 
     afterEach(() => {
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ describe('Filters', () => {
         });
 
         it('renders a label for each filter group', () => {
-            appliedFilterStore.setGroups([
+            getAppliedFilterStore().setGroups([
                 { id: 'cat', label: 'Categories', properties: [] },
                 { id: 'prov', label: 'Font Providers', properties: [] },
             ]);
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ describe('Filters', () => {
         });
 
         it('renders filter properties within groups', () => {
-            appliedFilterStore.setGroups([
+            getAppliedFilterStore().setGroups([
                 {
                     id: 'cat',
                     label: 'Category',
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ describe('Filters', () => {
         });
 
         it('renders multiple groups with their properties', () => {
-            appliedFilterStore.setGroups([
+            getAppliedFilterStore().setGroups([
                 {
                     id: 'cat',
                     label: 'Category',
diff --git a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/FiltersControl/FilterControls.svelte b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/FiltersControl/FilterControls.svelte
index f249f99..08c4fc9 100644
--- a/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/FiltersControl/FilterControls.svelte
+++ b/src/features/FilterAndSortFonts/ui/FiltersControl/FilterControls.svelte
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ import RefreshCwIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/refresh-cw';
 import { getContext } from 'svelte';
 import {
     SORT_OPTIONS,
-    appliedFilterStore,
-    sortStore,
+    getAppliedFilterStore,
+    getSortStore,
 } from '../../model';
 
 interface Props {
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ const {
 const responsive = getContext<ResponsiveManager>('responsive');
 const isMobileOrTabletPortrait = $derived(responsive.isMobile || responsive.isTabletPortrait);
 
+const appliedFilterStore = getAppliedFilterStore();
+const sortStore = getSortStore();
+const sortValue = $derived(sortStore.value);
+
 function handleReset() {
     appliedFilterStore.deselectAllGlobal();
 }
@@ -53,7 +57,7 @@ function handleReset() {
                 <Button
                     variant="ghost"
                     size={isMobileOrTabletPortrait ? 'xs' : 'sm'}
-                    active={sortStore.value === option}
+                    active={sortValue === option}
                     onclick={() => sortStore.set(option)}
                     class="tracking-wide px-0"
                 >
diff --git a/src/widgets/ComparisonView/ui/Search/Search.svelte b/src/widgets/ComparisonView/ui/Search/Search.svelte
index f281cb6..45ef94d 100644
--- a/src/widgets/ComparisonView/ui/Search/Search.svelte
+++ b/src/widgets/ComparisonView/ui/Search/Search.svelte
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@
     propagates the value into fontCatalogStore.
 -->
 <script lang="ts">
-import { appliedFilterStore } from '$features/FilterAndSortFonts';
+import { getAppliedFilterStore } from '$features/FilterAndSortFonts';
 import { SearchBar } from '$shared/ui';
+
+const appliedFilterStore = getAppliedFilterStore();
 </script>
 
 <div class="p-6 border-b border-subtle">
diff --git a/src/widgets/ComparisonView/ui/Search/Search.svelte.test.ts b/src/widgets/ComparisonView/ui/Search/Search.svelte.test.ts
index 1bd7575..a1ccaf2 100644
--- a/src/widgets/ComparisonView/ui/Search/Search.svelte.test.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/ComparisonView/ui/Search/Search.svelte.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { appliedFilterStore } from '$features/FilterAndSortFonts';
+import { getAppliedFilterStore } from '$features/FilterAndSortFonts';
 import {
     render,
     screen,
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import Search from './Search.svelte';
 
 describe('Search', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
-        appliedFilterStore.queryValue = '';
+        getAppliedFilterStore().queryValue = '';
     });
 
     describe('Rendering', () => {
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ describe('Search', () => {
 
     describe('Value binding', () => {
         it('reflects appliedFilterStore.queryValue as initial value', () => {
-            appliedFilterStore.queryValue = 'Inter';
+            getAppliedFilterStore().queryValue = 'Inter';
             render(Search);
             expect(screen.getByRole('textbox')).toHaveValue('Inter');
         });
diff --git a/src/widgets/FontSearch/ui/FontSearch/FontSearch.svelte b/src/widgets/FontSearch/ui/FontSearch/FontSearch.svelte
index 928392a..35b3e29 100644
--- a/src/widgets/FontSearch/ui/FontSearch/FontSearch.svelte
+++ b/src/widgets/FontSearch/ui/FontSearch/FontSearch.svelte
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import {
     FilterControls,
     Filters,
-    appliedFilterStore,
+    getAppliedFilterStore,
 } from '$features/FilterAndSortFonts';
 import { springySlideFade } from '$shared/lib';
 import {
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ interface Props {
 
 let { showFilters = $bindable(true) }: Props = $props();
 
+const appliedFilterStore = getAppliedFilterStore();
+
 const transform = new Tween(
     { scale: 1, rotate: 0 },
     { duration: 250, easing: cubicOut },