Baer Fabrics Closes Its Doors After 103 Years In Business
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For more than a century Baer Fabrics provided Louisvillearea customers with specialty items ranging from vintage lace to match an old wedding dress to velour for a car seat.
But yesterday the store went out of business as longtime customers cried hugged employees and loaded up on goods one last time.
“I’m really upset about it” said Liz Burmester 28 who went to a sewing camp at Baer when she was 11. “It’s a Louisville institution.
Owner Stuart Goldberg declined to comment on why the store at 515 E. Market St. was closing after 103 years of business. But saleswoman Hildegard Szuklitsch said employees were told Thursday night that “the bank is closing it.” She said they weren’t told much more than that.
Several customers said other employees told them the same story.
Yesterday customers who had heard about the closing flocked to the store some driving more than an hour. Long lines at the cash registers kept the doors open past closing time as employees and devoted customers took photographs and said goodbye.
“We’re two very sad customers” said Carolyn Rohde who drove from Munfordville Ky. with her mother after hearing Baer was closing. The two came away with material for curtains and chair covers.
Rohde’s mother Jacqueline Wallace said that for years a stop at Baer has been a highlight of their shopping trips to Louisville.
Jean Penick who makes cloth gift bags and other items to sell at a flea market on Millers Lane said she’ll miss the brightly colored ethnic material she found at Baer.
Penick said she can find material at other stores but “you don’t get the same quality” that Baer had.
The rambling threestory store’s walls and shelves were lined with rolls of fabric and displays of sequins tassels ribbons buttons and the like. Baer also sold marine hardware foam and fabric for boat seat covers webbing plastic buckles and other paraphernalia.
Kathy Ayres who bought fabric for her daughter’s bridesmaids yesterday said if she needs a hardtofind item “Baer’s will have it.
“I’d rather come here than go shopping in the mall or anything. It’s more fun” said Amanda Lackore who bought upholstery materials for her dining room. She said she has spent about 1000 at Baer in recent weeks.
Customers said they’ll miss Baer’s staff as much as its inventory.
At some other fabric stores “the people that work there know very little about sewing” said Margie Cowden who has shopped at Baer for more than 20 years and had her two sewing machines serviced there.
“The people were so educated at this store” she said. “And then the fabrics they’re just beautiful beautiful fabrics that you can’t find elsewhere.
“It’s a real loss to Louisville” Cowden said. “There are a lot of women in there crying.”
About the writer: ”It’s a real loss to Louisville” Cowden said. “There are a lot of women in there crying.”
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