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In 2003 when I moved to Marietta, Georgia, from
Florida, I was thrilled to find out that I was living
just a couple of miles from a fabric store! Oh joy
unbounded!
Unfortunately, when I stopped at the historic Marietta
Mill building and knocked on the door I found out
that the fabric store which had once been located
there was now closed. Too bad, I thought. What a fitting
place for a fabric store...a historic textile mill.
Not to mention the delicious location just blocks
from historic Marietta town square. Oh well, I thought,
maybe this is the chance for me to open the fabric
store I always dreamed of . . .
When I got to know the town better, I felt there
was a real need for a good fabric store in the area,
so I began to talk to various people about renting
a small space. At one point, I even took an option
on an 800 square foot space. I had visions of sewing
peacefully along and stopping to chat when the occasional
customer wandered in.
Then God said "Hah!"
One day as I passed the Mill, I saw the sign..."7,000
square feet for sale or lease." Oh gosh, that
cool old building has space available, but of course
I could never begin to afford it. Still...
I gathered up my courage and called the sweetest
realtor in Marietta, John Hunicutt, a real southern
gentleman. Maybe the space could be subdivided? I
asked. John arranged to show me the building...and
it was love at first sight. The lower floor of the
historic mill had exposed floor beams, now painted
black, and it seemed to go on forever. Old pipes and
giant circuit breakers and roller doors spoke of the
building's past as a mill. This was the space I'd
always dreamed of ...too bad I was way too poor to
afford it!
I babbled on to John about my dreams of the ultimate
quilt store.in a historic mill no less. He told me
about the history of the building, built in 1946 with
double thick walls in case it was needed as a munitions
storage area, and since used by the Bentley family
to house their textile company. He agreed to plead
my case with the Bentley brothers, Drew and Bullet.
I think that what swayed the brothers was the fact
that I love their building as much as they do. In
any case, after some agonizing weeks, John was able
to persuade them to make me a wonderful deal for the
space. Thanks to their kindness it was, and is, a
match made in heaven.
Many gallons of paint later, our grand old lady
is polished up and again receiving visitors. The factory
has long been relocated, although the company offices
are still on the upper floor. When the store is quiet,
I can hear my friends walking around on the original
creaky floor boards a sound I find very comforting.
In turn, the Bentleys and the other employees of Marietta
Drapery can't resist visiting occasionally to see
what is new and to rejoice in the old lady's new look.
In addition to 6,000 bolts of fabric, we sell the
overruns of drapes and bedspreads produced by the
drapery company, at ridiculously low prices. When
things are slow, I bored my customers by pointing
out the unique brick ceiling, constructed with the
same technology as the London underground. The occasional
ghost drifts by, interested in all the changes, I
suppose, or wondering at our state-of-the-art long
arm quilting machine, so different from the primitive
mill machines of the past.
In recent months we have added Toys, Gifts, Art,
Rugs, Food, and many others. Not to mention Handi
Quilter machines and Custom long arm quilting services!
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