U-Fab’s new building in Scott’s Addition is also home to a party rental company. Photos by Michael Thompson.
A local retailer is consolidating space it has near the Fan and in Midlothian to open a Scott’s Addition storefront.
U-Fab, which sells fabrics for home décor and also does upholstery, custom sewing and furniture, will vacate its store at 106 S. Robinson St. and offices and warehousing in Midlothian in favor of a 25,000-square-foot property at 3210 W. Marshall St. The space is currently home to Brass Beds of Virginia.
Travis Hamilton, U-Fab founder and owner, said the consolidation was brought about because his company needed more space. The West Marshall Street property will be a storefront, storage and office space for the company. Hamilton said the location’s parking and accessibility made it an attractive place to do business.
Travis Hamilton
“It is a good, easy location to get to,” he said. “It kind of fits our model of being off the beaten path but not very far.”
Hamilton would not say how much the Richmond consolidation is expected to cost. He said he is in talks with banks about financing.
After launching in 2008 with its South Robinson Street storefront, U-Fab added a Charlottesville store in 2010 and a Southside outlet store in 2013. The company has 25 employees spread across its two locations.
Before launching U-Fab, Hamilton worked in the furniture industry in Canada. He moved to Richmond in 2003 to run the now-closed furniture store EQ3. He said he saw that the furniture business was taking a hit as the economy started to go south and decided to get into the fabric trade.
Eight years later, the company has found ways to grow in an industry that isn’t without its wrinkles.
“For the most part, it’s on a decline,” Hamilton said of the retail fabric industry. “We are a bit of a rarity.”
Hamilton said U-Fab stays competitive with services like re-upholstery and design consultation. It tried doing online sales for a time but now only sells its wares in its stores.
“Fabric is a tactile thing,” Hamilton said.
U-Fab’s new building in Scott’s Addition is also home to a party rental company. Photos by Michael Thompson.
A local retailer is consolidating space it has near the Fan and in Midlothian to open a Scott’s Addition storefront.
U-Fab, which sells fabrics for home décor and also does upholstery, custom sewing and furniture, will vacate its store at 106 S. Robinson St. and offices and warehousing in Midlothian in favor of a 25,000-square-foot property at 3210 W. Marshall St. The space is currently home to Brass Beds of Virginia.
Travis Hamilton, U-Fab founder and owner, said the consolidation was brought about because his company needed more space. The West Marshall Street property will be a storefront, storage and office space for the company. Hamilton said the location’s parking and accessibility made it an attractive place to do business.
Travis Hamilton
“It is a good, easy location to get to,” he said. “It kind of fits our model of being off the beaten path but not very far.”
Hamilton would not say how much the Richmond consolidation is expected to cost. He said he is in talks with banks about financing.
After launching in 2008 with its South Robinson Street storefront, U-Fab added a Charlottesville store in 2010 and a Southside outlet store in 2013. The company has 25 employees spread across its two locations.
Before launching U-Fab, Hamilton worked in the furniture industry in Canada. He moved to Richmond in 2003 to run the now-closed furniture store EQ3. He said he saw that the furniture business was taking a hit as the economy started to go south and decided to get into the fabric trade.
Eight years later, the company has found ways to grow in an industry that isn’t without its wrinkles.
“For the most part, it’s on a decline,” Hamilton said of the retail fabric industry. “We are a bit of a rarity.”
Hamilton said U-Fab stays competitive with services like re-upholstery and design consultation. It tried doing online sales for a time but now only sells its wares in its stores.
“Fabric is a tactile thing,” Hamilton said.