FITCHBURG — While sewing masks during the height of the pandemic, Amy Owen recalled simpler times when she’d sew with her mother who’d shop for supplies at the local mom and pop store. 

“I was working from home making masks and it just started bringing back the old feel,” said Owen.  “I started reminiscing about working with my mother and how much I missed sewing and how there was no old school stores anymore.”

Owen’s sentimentality had an entrepreneurial bent. After retiring from the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley last October, she joined forces with her good friend Aramis Jordan and opened Fabric n Things in a vacant building he owns on Airport Road. 

Owen, 58, said that prior to opening Fabric n Things, she conducted a Facebook poll asking the community if there “would be a call for it” and if people would come to the store once it opened. Owen said she was surprised when 400 people responded to the poll; 75% saying they were interested. 

“We got quite a few responses. A lot of them were ‘yeah we would love it as long as it is affordable,’” she said. 

Fabric n Things had its soft opening on Oct. 22 and on Dec. 10, the store had its hard opening ceremony where several local officials – including Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale – came out to cut the ribbon on the new enterprise. 

“Our hope is for another thriving business in Fitchburg,” said DiNatale. “Based on the conversations I have had with the owner, that kind of business is something that has been lacking for quite some time. I know there is a similar business in Leominster and now there is one in Fitchburg and I wish them much success.”

The store in Leominster DiNatale referred to was JOANN Fabric and Crafts, a corporate chain with an outlet at The Mall at Whitney Field. Owen counters this big chain with Fabric n Things, her so-called “old school” fabric store. 

“We are trying to make it affordable,” said Owen. “We have price points of $3.95 a yard, $6.95 a yard and $9.95 a yard. It’s based on the quality of the fabric.”

The majority of Owen’s inventory comes from fabric purchases she made from stores that were going out of business, including one in Adams and another in York, Maine. 

In addition, Owen, her business partner, Aramis, and his wife purchase fabric from estate sales. 

“We go to estate sales or Facebook Marketplace and we would find beautiful materials because women who quilt or sew, we all have a stash and sometimes you go in and look at the fabric and it’s so beautiful you go ‘I don’t know what I want to do with it, but I got to have it,’” she said.