It seems that Wal-Mart might be trying to correct a few mistakes. In central Michigan they have closed out two fabric depts. in the last two years and are currently closing another one that is about 1/2 mile from the best quilt shop in lower Michigan. Meanwhile they are expanding one and putting one back, right in a rural and Amish area. Two of them were in upscale areas and not well staffed by WalMart. I suspect more than a few problems stem from poor attitudes of management toward shoppers. They don't seem to make the connection between poor service = fewer customers = fewer sales = lower profits.
The store that us actually upgrading their fabric dept. has knowledgable, friendly staff, etc. The one that is closing almost never has staff visible in the fabric area and it often takes 20 min. to get them to find someone. That's what you get from "too many chiefs and not enough indians".