Bill Parent had planned to shut his business down, but instead he moved it to Wilmington.

"I was out in western North Carolina for about 10 years and then some family was relocating here and I was thinking about closing the store," Parent said. "They talked me into coming here and checking this out, and I ended up opening the store here."

Parent began welcoming customers to Quilting Crafts-N-Things earlier this month in Suite 16 of Cornerstone Shopping Center, 1616 Shipyard Blvd.

The family members Parent was referring to include his sisters and a brother, who have been helping out at the store, where customers can find a variety of quilting and crafting supplies. 

Parent said he can also finish quilts for customers using a longarm sewing machine. He also sells Handi Quilter longarm machines. He said he's in the midst of organizing a quilting class schedule.

So far, the response to his store has been positive, Parent said.

"Everyone’s really excited. Quilters normally get very excited when there’s a new quilt store in town," Parent said.

He said there are numerous quilters guilds in the Cape Fear Region, including Quilters by the Sea of Wilmington, which has nearly 200 members.

Among the other items for sale at the store, which is in 3,000 square feet of space at the center, are handmade clothes that fit American Girl dolls. 

Parent's store was previously located in Rutherfordton.

The leasing agent for Cornerstone Shopping Center, where a bakery recently expanded into more space, is Mike Brown of Cape Fear Commercial.