Auburn Fabric Outlet, the longtime supply store at 773 Southbridge St., will close its doors for good on Dec. 19, ending a run of 16 years in town. The store announced the closure on social media, and the shutdown comes as the owner's health issues played a role in the decision.
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported the closure, noting the shop had operated as a supply store at its Southbridge Street location for 16 years before announcing it would shut down.
News of the closure spread through the outlet's own social media following, where Auburn Fabric Outlet has built a modest but loyal base. The store's Facebook page shows thousands of likes and hundreds of people marked as having visited in person, a sign of the steady local foot traffic the shop drew over the years.
Part of a Tougher Climate for Fabric Retailers
Auburn Fabric Outlet's closure lands amid a difficult stretch for fabric and craft retailers more broadly. Many retailers have struggled in recent years due to inflation and interest rates that were, for a time, the highest in decades, according to The Boston Globe.
That pressure has hit national chains especially hard. Joann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and moved to close roughly 500 stores across the country, the Globe reported. Nearly 20 of those targeted closures were in Massachusetts, including locations in Shrewsbury and Leominster.
What Comes Next
For now, the timeline is simple: Auburn Fabric Outlet plans to remain open until Dec. 19, giving customers about seven weeks to make final visits before the Southbridge Street storefront shuts for good. Details on any closing sales, staff transitions, or future use of the space have not been made public.
