FM Stores moves into $1M building

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow for FM Stores' new building at 2814 S. Fremont Ave., near Battlefield Mall.

The 11 a.m. ceremony marks the Springfield fabric company's grand opening at the $1.2 million site, where FM Stores had a soft opening a month ago. Co-owner Todd Arbeitman said FM Stores operated out of its previous location at 1368 E. Sunshine St. for roughly three decades. The move doubles the company's retail floor space and adds needed parking, Arbeitman said.

"We needed the space, and we needed the parking lot. That was the No. 1 concern," he said, noting FM Stores customers' vehicles often spilled over into other lots at the Sunshine location.

The 15,500-square-foot Fremont Avenue building on about two acres comprises 10,000 square feet for showroom and inventory of fabric, quilting materials and accessories such as ribbon and tassel, as well as 5,000 square feet of retail space available for lease. Arbeitman said the company is nearing completion of an agreement with an undisclosed tenant for 1,500 square feet.

FM Stores has historically leased space, and the new building represents the first time the company has been housed in space the business owns, Arbeitman said.

FM Stores was founded in 1952, and Bill and Edna Arbeitman purchased it from Abe Kershenbaum in 1995. Todd Arbeitman said FM Stores had leased a few locations, including its first store near Bass Pro Shops, before moving to its Sunshine Street site.