Wawa Looks to Replace Fabricland in North Plainfield

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — The iconic and long-standing Fabricland building on Route 22 in North Plainfield may soon be demolished to make room for a 24-hour Wawa convenience store and gas station.

Bruce Heyman, owner of the third-generation family business, said they are not closing, just relocating to a smaller space.

The current Fabricland building has sat at the 869 Route 22 West location for 55 years and is 21,000 square feet.

Bruce Heyman took over the business from his father Jay Heyman, who took it over from his father (Bruce’s grandfather) Phillip.

Over the years the business has grown into two companies, Fabricland and Metropolitan Window Fashions. Metropolitan Window Fashions is an in-home decorating service where they come directly to your home with fabrics, shades and blinds.

“With that business being more in-home sales, we don’t really need a huge space,” Bruce Heyman said. “We decided to go down the road to something smaller.”

Bruce did not disclose where Fabricland will be moving until things are finalized. However, he said he would be staying in his hometown of North Plainfield.

“We want to assure everyone that absolutely we will continue on in the fabric business and offering sewing lessons,” Bruce said. “We are part of the community and happy to stay.”

Owning the Fabricland property, Bruce is now looking to lease it to Wawa who is proposing a 5,585-square-foot convenience store and a gas station with six pumps.

This would put Wawa right next door to a current 7-Eleven location.

The proposed plan will be heard before the North Plainfield Zoning Board of Adjustment on Feb. 8 and Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal building at 263 Somerset St.

Wawa is expanding rapidly through the area with a location on Route 28 in Bridgewater set to open late spring/early summer and another location recently approved on Route 202/206 across from Wegmans in Bridgewater as well.

(Image via Google Maps)

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