Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 4, 1990                   TAG: 9003014392
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JIM STALEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: FLOYD                                 LENGTH: Medium

OLD SCHOOL IS JUST THE SPOT FOR AN ORIGINAL FABRIC SHOP

The converted 1920s school building houses a number of such cloths and curiosities.

It's an old school building. A very old school building. The structure is only 1920s, but the brick that covers it dates from the 1880s, when the original building was renovated.

The original schoolhouse, torn down to make the new one, was built more than 150 years ago.

The brick was handmade in Floyd especially for the school, and its roughness speaks of a time before mechanical mass production. Climbing the brick steps and opening the squeaking door, one almost expects to hear a teacher's voice droning out a history lesson.

The building was used as a school until 1961, when it was sold. Duncan's parents left their 300-acre dairy farm nearby to start the fabric store in one room of the building, which they rented from the local owner.

The business spread gradually through the rest of the building, and in 1976 Duncan purchased the building and surrounding land for $40,000. "It seemed like a lot at the time," said Duncan, "but it turned out to be a great deal."

Soon they outgrew the building and had to build an extension at the back. Duncan also bought a nearby home to use as a warehouse. Another warehouse was built in July behind the main building, on the site of what was Spangler's Blacksmith Shop, which operated until the turn of the century. Spangler's old barn still stands.

In the main building, the basement holds the garment fabrics. The rest of the building is divided into departments, with each department in a different classroom. The converted classrooms on the first floor hold the quilting and craft supplies and the bridal department.

Walking up the steps to the second floor, it is easy to imagine excited students rushing past on their way out at the end of the school day. Duncan tells about a local man who once attended school here. "He says he got most of his whippings for jumping down these steps."

The second floor contains car fabrics, velvets, nylons and upholstery. Duncan also sells quilts made by hand by local women. The quilts are priced from $295, which seems steep until Duncan points out that it takes at least four months to make one.

Drapery and upholstery supplies are in the converted principal's office, but we didn't linger there. It still feels ominous even though the principal has been gone for 39 years.

Duncan, now 35, began helping his parents run the business while he was still in high school.

After completing business classes at New River Community College, he took over the enterprise and now runs it with 12 employees. Many of the employees are related to Duncan, and all are served home-cooked meals prepared by Duncan's mother each day.

Lois Akres, who has worked at the store for more than six years, says working for the Duncans is "super." "I love to work with fabrics," she says.

Duncan says his business has been affected by development along the U.S. 460-Virginia 114 corridor in Christiansburg.

It was most noticeable he says, last Christmas when his local suppliers, with whom he had dealt for years, put his Christmas order on hold until the huge Wal-Mart order had been processed.

Duncan did not receive his shipment until January, and many of his faithful customers had to go elsewhere for their Christmas craft supplies. "That was the first time it really hit me that I was a small business," he said.

But the business is doing pretty good, he says, and he enjoys working in Floyd. His customers come from as far away as West Virginia, and Duncan likes the fact that his shop is easy to find in the small town. He also enjoys Floyd's lower tax rate, and, of course, the people.

Duncan is able to keep his prices low by buying large quantities of material from "cut and sew" factories in North Carolina, rather than dealing directly with the more expensive New York mills.

He buys top-quality overruns and old patterns and is able to retail them for up to 50 percent off their original wholesale price.

Duncan considers low prices, a wide selection and especially friendly service as the keys to the future of his business. "We have to maintain our niche," he said.