Do you remember Ben Franklin Stores?

They are all but gone, but there are two left in the St. Louis area. And they still carry fabric! This afternoon, I found myself on the street where they are located, and had a few minutes to check things out! Wow, it was a bonanza of quilt fabrics and embroidery and knitting supplies! They also carry retro candies and gums, I bought Black Jack and Clove gum! No Sen-Sen, though! Remember that stuff--what a blast from the past! Got two beautiful hunks of quilt backing for $3.99 a yard, it looks and feels wonderful, blew the fabric diet again!

I loved Ben Franklin stores! Ours left our area a few years back and I really miss it! Yes, they did carry nice fabric! Lucky duck!

We have a store here in Hawaii in fact other than Walmart and a few craft stores Ben Franklin is our major store here there are two in fact.

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Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

They are all but gone, but there are two left in the St. Louis area. And they still carry fabric! This afternoon, I found myself on the street where they are located, and had a few minutes to check things out! Wow, it was a bonanza of quilt fabrics and embroidery and knitting supplies! They also carry retro candies and gums, I bought Black Jack and Clove gum! No Sen-Sen, though! Remember that stuff--what a blast from the past! Got two beautiful hunks of quilt backing for $3.99 a yard, it looks and feels wonderful, blew the fabric diet again!

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Our Ben Franklin closed a few years ago and I miss them because I would go shopping on my lunch hour. Guess I didn't spend enough money to keep them in business *lol* or spent enough so the owners could retire.

I worked at Ben Franklin right after Highschool! I still have some of that fabric!

There is one left that I know of. It is still fun to check in there, but I need to have some serious play money put aside before I go through the door. Too many things I can't say no to!

We have a Ben Franklin near us and it has a small but nice fabric section. And they often have 50% coupons in the mail. I'm on a "diet" too, but I do treat myself now and then, just so I don't feel deprived. Of course it helps that I have no more room to store fabric! I think the next piece I try to sneak in might blow the whole room apart.

No fabric at the Ben Franklin in Pearl City - Sandy does the other one have fabric?

I loved Ben Franklin. Was sad when the one in So. County by St. Anthony's closed. Where are the one's in St. Louis located Jean? Might need to go check it out.

We have one in the Western Upper Peninsula of MI. Haven't made it over there yet, but hear they have some great fabrics.

I grew up with one in a little town in Iowa - it had everything! I haven't seen one for years though. We use to call it The Dime Store :D

I loved Ben Franklin. they've been gone from this area for a long time now. my mom worked in the fabric dept (too bad i didn't sew then). I miss that store.

I rmeember wanting Black Jack and Clover gum...but never got it but for an occassional time to want it more! Didn't like it much but it was the "thing" to have! Black Licorice gum...now that was innovative! And Sen-Sen...again...begged for that but seldom got it..another "thing" to have! Yeah, those were the days. I think I was on the tail end of them tho as neither of those lasted long...until many years later they came back just a little bit...saw them from time to time. Ben Frank was in in the 80's but phased out in the 90's here in california. But the Dollar Stores...can often find Black Jack and Clover gum and I will occasionaly see SenSen at a liquor store. Don't have the guts to buy it now...doesn't even sound good!

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Originally Posted by auntiemern

I loved Ben Franklin. Was sad when the one in So. County by St. Anthony's closed. Where are the one's in St. Louis located Jean? Might need to go check it out.

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One is in Webster Groves near Webster U and Nerinx Hall, that's where I went. The clerk told me there is one in Eureka. My son lives in Winterset, IA. They have one that I hear is on the quilt bus tour route. I've shopped there, it has a pretty good fabric selection.

Our Ben Franklin's just changed there name to The Craft Mart. Same stuff and lots of fabric... Carson City Nevada

We still have Ben Franklin very near me in a little town called Bonney Lake. It has a wonderful fabric section and holds all kinds of craft classes. I've never been, but I've been in there when there were quilting classes going on. Long before I knew how fun it was.

Not just one but 2!!! Am jealous - have not seen them in many many years!!! Do they have the pre-printed embroidery items like tablecloths and pillowcases?!! Well my little sister and her husband are going to be stationed there for 3 years - hmmm, do I see a trip in my future....

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Originally Posted by bkthomas

Not just one but 2!!! Am jealous - have not seen them in many many years!!! Do they have the pre-printed embroidery items like tablecloths and pillowcases?!! Well my little sister and her husband are going to be stationed there for 3 years - hmmm, do I see a trip in my future....

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Yes, they have a huge selection of these. Since I don't embroider by hand, I didn't really look at the patterns, but they had an entire row about 20 feet long by 4 feet high, completely covered with little envelopes of embroidery panels. I think there were more in another section also. It would be cool if you could visit our fair city! WE could give you a tour of the local quilt shops, there are some nice ones. Bring an empty suitcase.

Jean, what will we do with you and that diet of yours! (Psst, I bought fabric again today too)

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Originally Posted by Monique

Jean, what will we do with you and that diet of yours! (Psst, I bought fabric again today too)

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Just like all diets, I shouldn't have even mentioned that I was doing it! Now you all are my conscience and nagging me when I fail miserably on the diet. And I have not been good this week! Only for 3 days, then, BINGE!

Ooops! This was in reply to AlohaSandy in Hawaii! But will let you know if I'm ever up that way - Thanks for the warm welcome!! Sounds like a super place to visit, then maybe we can go to MSQC!!!

This is gonna take some getting used to!!!

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Originally Posted by bkthomas

Ooops! This was in reply to AlohaSandy in Hawaii! But will let you know if I'm ever up that way - Thanks for the warm welcome!! Sounds like a super place to visit, then maybe we can go to MSQC!!!

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Well, if you ever get this way, let us know. MSQC is 209 miles from my house, according to Google maps. It is halfway to my son's house in Des Moines, so if I go to see them, I plan on stopping for a vist to MSQC. I want to see their new store.

Plus, I was wondering where you were going to be stationed for 3 years in or near St. Louis, no military bases near here!

We had a wonderful Ben Franklin in the next town over until about 1997-98. The store was original with wide plank wood floors, old ceiling fans, a real candy counter where they weighed your candy and all the old-fashioned items plus fabrics and carft supplies. The BF store is now our vet's office! I sure to miss that place!

I haven't seen a Ben Franklin store in years! Loved to go to BF as a youngster.

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Originally Posted by auntiemern

I loved Ben Franklin. Was sad when the one in So. County by St. Anthony's closed. Where are the one's in St. Louis located Jean? Might need to go check it out.

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I was shocked the first time I was by there and it was gone. I thought their fabric was going downhill tho. I had not found anything good there for a while.
I need to find the others in St Louis. There is one in downtown Belleville, Ill too

You know now that I think about it it doesn't have fab. anymore only yarn sorry senior moment lol

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Originally Posted by HandsOffItsMine

No fabric at the Ben Franklin in Pearl City - Sandy does the other one have fabric?

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Ben Franklins here in Richmond VA have just been bought out and will be changing their name to AC Moore. But AC Moore isn't who bought them, it was just a higher name recognition (I know the people who bought them, used to work for them...)

The Ben Franklin I went to today had a very excellent collection of ginghams, real woven ginghams. Since I make costumes, sometimes this is the fabric to be used in a period show, and it is often hard to find, especially in various colors at big fabric stores. They had enough to costume a whole chorus of cowgirls!

They also had some batiks, which I bought a few cuts of. And a whole stack of Easter fabric, unopened bolts, too bad it is a week too late! It was really pretty.

Most of their fabrics were in flat folds, but the stuff on bolts was in larger quantities than I can usually find in big stores, large enough to do some big backings for big queen/king quilts. That isn't easy to find in many places.

We still have one here in Southern Iowa and it has quite a lot of beautiful fabric and supplies. (I also like the candy counter!)

We had a real nice one here. it's been gone for sometime now and i still miss it. my kids called it the "candy store."

I remember the Sen-Sens. my grandpa always had some. Once in a while he would give us one-oddtasting things- but we loved to get them. that and Beemans gum.

We used to have a Ben Franklin in our area ,unfortunately it was blown away during one of our awful tornado's, they never built back. I really liked that store.

We have a Ben Franklin's, and I just started working in the fabric section on Fridays (my day off from my other job). It is a locally owned store, and the owners have another Ben Franklin's in a near by community. Ben's has everything, including an extensive fabric section that would rival some quilt shops - and such a fun place to work :) Hubs figured I'd spend everything I earn on fabric...true, true.

Lin

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Originally Posted by Beakkmom

We have a Ben Franklin's, and I just started working in the fabric section on Fridays (my day off from my other job). It is a locally owned store, and the owners have another Ben Franklin's in a near by community. Ben's has everything, including an extensive fabric section that would rival some quilt shops - and such a fun place to work :) Hubs figured I'd spend everything I earn on fabric...true, true.

Lin

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. Are you near Winterset? They have a great BF there. My son lives near there, their kids go to Winterset Public School.

I miss our Ben Franklin. They went out of business here so long ago. I want to say more than 10 years and they had been here forever...I mean it was THE place to go to for crafts before Michaels or Joann's existed.

When I was growing up (1950s), we had a Ben Franklin in Elkin, NC. It WAS the 'dime' store. My sister and I rediscovered Ben Franklin at Myrtle Beach, SC, and Greensboro, NC, a few years ago. Unfortunately, the MB store closed but the GSO one relocated to an area closer to my home. Alas, the BF near me is now a Planet Fitness!!! There are other BFs in the area, though. I actually bought the fabric for the Jacob's Ladder group at the BF in Kannapolis, NC.

What about Teaberry gum?????

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Originally Posted by NanaB

When I was growing up (1950s), we had a Ben Franklin in Elkin, NC. It WAS the 'dime' store. My sister and I rediscovered Ben Franklin at Myrtle Beach, SC, and Greensboro, NC, a few years ago. Unfortunately, the MB store closed but the GSO one relocated to an area closer to my home. Alas, the BF near me is now a Planet Fitness!!! There are other BFs in the area, though. I actually bought the fabric for the Jacob's Ladder group at the BF in Kannapolis, NC.

What about Teaberry gum?????

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Didn't totally check out the retro candy aisle, maybe they do have TeaberryGum! Next shopping adventure!

I think there's one still in the Ricmond area (Virginia). At least it was there when I was back in Richmond in December. I do love that craft store.

The first time we went to the US (Christmas 1992) we were taken to a Ben Franklin Store, I was awestruck, I had never seen a store like it. We had to visit several times before we flew back. I was so sad the last time we went the shop had closed........

We have a Ben Franklin about 10 miles from my house. It's been in the same little store for 85 years I think! I went there with my mom when I was a child. I had completely forgotten they had fabric until I went back in with my step-mom a few weeks ago. I have to get back there and really check it out!

We have a Ben Franklin here in this podunk town. It has a nice fabric selection although not entire lines or any pre-cuts. The store almost closed but finally some new owners stepped up. I'm not a fan of some of the changes they made but I'm glad the store is still there. It is now the only store in town to buy quality fabrics from. I believe there is another store about an hour from here but across the state line and where I used to live (6 hours from here) they have a WONDERFUL Ben Franklin store.