My earliest memory of my Mom buying fabric was at JCPenney's. I loved sitting on the stools looking at the pattern books. Same thing my granddaughter does today! LOL!! In jr. high, we needed fabric for our sewing class and Mom went to the local 5&10 Drug store to get it.
After that, it was Kresges or Joann Fabrics til Walmart came along. I also shopped at Piece Goods til they went out of business.