INTERVIEW: Popular Lancaster high street fabric shop to close after 35 years

A Lancaster high street fabric shop loved by sewing enthusiasts will close its doors after 35 years.

Fabrix haberdashery on New Street in the city centre will shut on Sunday March 3.

Owner Jenny Atkinson spoke to Beyond Radio to explain the reasons for the closure.

Jenny will be carrying on Fabrix as an online business and said not having the physical shop will allow her to "be a bit more creative".

LISTEN to Jenny talking about the closure of the shop

The shop was originally opened on North Road in 1988 by Terri Sethi, who owned the business until Jenny took over in 2015.

Jenny had started working in the shop in the 1980s, and was also working as a costume designer at The Dukes theatre at the time.

She said the decision to close was because: "I wanted to get back to creating and working on my own projects, and being in the shop hasn't really allowed me to do any of that.

"It got to the point about a year or so ago when I thought it was time for a change.

"The business has been on the market for about a year. It needs somebody who's got the skill and the knowledge to do it.

"But unfortunately we haven't got anybody to buy the business so we're closing the doors.

"I think the shop is going to be sadly missed.

"There are fewer and fewer fabric shops physically on the high street now.

"It's been a really great journey.

"There is a customer who came in on Saturday and I know three generations of her family who have all come through the doors of Fabrix, and the same with other families as well. It's been a lovely thing to be part of."

During the interview Jenny also talked about the challenges of running Fabrix during Storm Desmond and Covid, and her unusual past job making costumes for Elvis tribute acts!