Fabricland, the legendary New Jersey retailer, has moved to a new location. After 57 years in North Plainfield, they have moved two miles down the road to 270 Route 22 in Green Brook.
Fabricland and their sister company, Metropolitan Window Fashions have been in business for 85 years, continuously owned by the same family. In 1996 they were honored by New Jersey Monthly Magazine as the “New Jersey Family Business of the Year.”
Bruce Heyman, owner and grandson of the founder, explains the reason for the move. “Our business is now 75% window fashions and 25% fabric. The building we occupied for the past 50 years was outdated. We are delighted to move into a 9,000 square foot showroom, the largest window fashions showroom in New Jersey, that highlights our Hunter Douglas Gallery, along with custom and readymade drapery displays.”
“We have two businesses under on roof. Metropolitan Window Fashions may have the larger share of the business because of our in-home decorating service, but Fabricland has the larger footprint in the new store. We will continue to stock dress, quilt, drapery and upholstery fabrics.”
Fabricland operates from the one location in Green Brook offering fabrics, notions, sewing machines and sewing classes for adults and children. Metropolitan Window Fashions has locations in Green Brook, Route 17 in Paramus and on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.
85 Years – Three Locations – Four Names – 50 Employees
Company founder Philip Heyman came to America as an orphan 100 years ago. He started Chain Decorators at the height of the depression with the goal of opening a ‘chain’ of decorating stores. From 1934 to 1952 Chain Decorators built and maintained stores in Plainfield, Westfield and Somerville.
In 1952, the business moved from downtown Plainfield to Route 22 in Green Brook (at the time, known as Route 29), and changed its name to Highway Mill End. That was the name of their new store opened in North Plainfield in 1961 when second generation Jay Heyman joined the firm. In 1963 a contest was held to name the new store and Highway Fabric Land was chosen and later shortened to Fabricland.
In 1999, owners Jay and Gertrude Heyman retired. Coincidentally, so did Louis Nassau of Nassau’s Window Fashions in Paramus. Bruce Heyman promptly purchased Nassau’s to continue the expansion of his custom decorating business.
In 2004, upon opening a third store, this time in Manhattan, the Metropolitan Window Fashions brand was established. Currently, Metropolitan is the largest independent window fashions retailer and dealer of Hunter Douglas window fashions in the metropolitan area. They employ 50 employees across three stores serving the residential, commercial and design community for draperies, motorized shades, blinds, shutters and smart homes.
For more information, or for a free in-home decorating consultation, contact Metropolitan Window Fashions at 877-722-1100 or windowfashions.com. For information on fabrics or to register for sewing classes, call 908-755-4700 or fabricland.com.
