Independent stores in past decades

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07-28-2018, 03:01 AM

#41

WMUTeach

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Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Portage, Michigan

Posts: 7,396

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctrysass2012

I grew up in W. MI & did work at a small indi shop in Breton mall. Later I worked at Fields Fabrics. They are still around & have expanded in the last 20 yrs. You can get it all there; bridal, drapery, upholstery, clothing & quilting. When I go back to MI to visit I always stop in to at least 1 of their shops. They will also be at the AQS show in Aug.

I have been to two different Field's Fabrics in the past two weeks, Spring Lake and Portage! Portage location is 10 minutes away. I worked at Compare Fabrics in the late 80's and when they closed, Field's hired a number of their employees.

07-28-2018, 08:07 AM

#42

grannie cheechee

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Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: jacksonville bch

Posts: 2,065

In the town I grew up in had Pennys, Woolworth, Spurgeon, Grants, Montgomery Wards, and Batterson that sold fabric. Then two ladies opened a fabric store. The Fabric Store did a great business during the late 50's and 60's. We had a Singer Store, but they never sold any fabric. I don't remember anybody doing quilting during that time, it was all clothes or drapes. None of the chain stores are there anymore, but the town does have two quilt stores that are great.

07-28-2018, 11:50 AM

#43

Ioftheneedle

Senior Member

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: Oklahoma

Posts: 323

Yes, I do remember independent fabric stores in my area. They carried mostly fine dressmaking fabrics. We had department stores and chain stores also. One of the last independent stores here closed just a few weeks ago. When all dressmaking trade was lost all the fabric stores went to craft and quilting it seems to me.

07-28-2018, 02:29 PM

#44

stillvnu

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Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: California

Posts: 702

When I was 17 I worked at Fashion Fabrics … it was dream job … looking at and touching fabrics for hours. I even made several store models!

07-30-2018, 06:50 AM

#45

Member

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: Central OH

Posts: 37

I remember we had a Singer Sewing Center and a Murphy's Five and Dime. They both carried fabrics.

07-30-2018, 07:28 AM

#46

SusieQOH

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Join Date: Jul 2017

Location: Central Ohio

Posts: 15,178

Can you imagine a 5 and dime store today? It would be empty lol

07-30-2018, 07:38 AM

#47

KalamaQuilts

Super Member

Join Date: May 2011

Location: SW Washington USA

Posts: 4,396

no, they are called Dollar Stores now!

JCPenney was the only source for fabric when I started sewing, when we moved to Portland a whole world of fabric stores opened up, most of them mentioned above

I started buying quilt fabric in the early 70s, 1/8" yard at a time. I never was a yardage buyer, but was apparently born a scrap quilter :0