Claire Grunstein, founder of Fabrics That Go, is one of the oldest local active business owners in Tucson, AZ, being over 90 years old and still working at the store.
The story of Fabrics That Go is really a history lesson of the American textile industry.
Robert Grunstein, Claire’s son who has since taken over the day to day operations likes to tell the family history in the fabric industry. “My grandfather started the business in 1945 in Paterson, NJ, which was silk capital of the US, after doing the fabric business for over 30 years on the East Coast, my parents thought to retire to Tucson.”
Claire remembers the first night she arrived by plane in Tucson with her late husband Herman. “I’ve never been farther than Pennsylvania so it was big,” Claire recounts. “We landed at night, the city was sparkling. I’ve never seen anything like it. We woke up in the morning and I looked at my husband and said I think I’m in paradise, what am I doing in New Jersey I have to move here!”
Although their intention was to retire, after a month of playing tennis they opened a small hobby store together in Tucson by the late 70s. Claire remembered it “like a closet, this was even smaller than our store in New Jersey.” Before long they moved to a larger store and landed at the store they’ve occupied for the last couple decades on 3105 N Campbell.
Today, Fabrics That Go carries the largest selection of Southwest fabrics in the world and attract customers from throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and as far away as Italy for their unique home fabrics. Despite being in the same industry for her whole life, Claire and her son Robert still has a strong passion for the business, and it starts with their customers. “I love the customer’s,” Claire said, “I want them to be happy, because when you’re fixing up your house and you are making it pretty, it should make you happy.”
Fabrics That Go is Tucson’s top choice when it comes to home fabric supply, custom upholstery, drapery & more! Customers can easily get a FREE quote by giving their ideas and uploading their project photos.
Fabrics That Go has grown over the decades, serving the Tucson, Arizona Community and is expanding nationally by now offering customers all over the United States unique home fabrics via the launch of their online store, where new fabrics are added daily.
