Our Quilt Roadies YouTube channel is about quilting on the road and showcasing the independent quilt shops we visit along the way. Which gives a front row seat into the life of the independent shops. It seems the brick and mortar quilt shops have faced some challenges in recent times. The closing of The City Quilter in New York City was huge news. And locally, when Greenbaum's in Salem, Oregon, and Hollyhill in West Linn closed, there was a collective gasp from the Oregon Quilters. The challenge of owning a brick and mortar store, when comparing it to online shopping, is overhead...OVERHEAD...as in rent, employee wages, utilities and time...all the stuff that comes with one owner and a building. I doubt there are many shop owners who are making a retirement-building wage and taking a yearly vacation to the tropics. Many work long hours and rarely quilt for fun. That is not to say that online doesn't have its place especially, for the brick 'n mortar who has been able to expand to include online. But, I think the big box online quilt shop has a price point that is based on sheer volume. There are home-based online shops where their work has invaded their home space...I don't know about you but there can't be much rest there! There is no right or wrong...no should or shouldn't in shopping for fabric, but if you are committed to having a local quilt shop...you must support it as much as you are able. 

In our little town we are lucky enough to have a real bookstore and quilt shop but they need our support. If every quilter decided to buy a fat quarter or half yard once a month I think it would have a huge impact on the brick and mortar store in your area. Just do the math, if there are 300 quilters in your area and each bought a half yard each month...WOW...a quilt shop might open in your area!!! LOL!  And, yes I know that the yardage at a quilt shop is more than what online usually has it listed for...but, we are only talking about a half yard...instead of one medium latte, LOL.

With all that conversation running around in my head I was tickled pink to hear that one of Oregon's favorite shops which closed last year Hollyhill...opened back up in a new location!!!  And, what a location it is!!!!

 

 

Just off of Oregon I-5 located in the Charbonneau area of Wilsonville, Jan (the mothership) and Brian (the son), have reopened Hollyhill!!!  It makes the quilting heart happy to see such a previously wonderful shop emerge in this new location. The drive to the shop was breathtaking as you will see in a future Quilt Roadie video. It is sweet, quaint, and happy with Brian's vignette touches, and the cherry on this sundae is a bakery right next door! That is if you get lightheaded with all the shopping :)

 

Christine Schultz & Jan Hill have been in non-stop mode, along with Brian and the gang, to get the shop in tip top shape for the Grand Opening on June 24th!!! As you can see they are off to a fantastic start! Thank you to ali ndependent shop owners for giving us a place to pet the fabric :)