Somewhere in Rochester, a rocking chair that is more than 100 years old got a second chance, and its family’s hand-stitched needlepoint came along for the ride. That kind of rescue is everyday work for one long-running upholstery shop on the city’s east side, where sagging seats, flattened cushions and roadside finds come in tired and leave ready for decades more.
In a time when most broken furniture ends up at the curb, this place keeps proving that old-fashioned repair still has a home in Upstate New York. Keep reading to learn where it is, who runs it, and why so many locals trust it with the chairs that matter most.
1. An Address Worth Saving on Anderson Avenue
Every good comeback story needs a starting point, and this one begins at Fabrics & Findings, 30 Anderson Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, in the United States.
The shop sits on Rochester’s east side, in a part of the city that many locals already know for its mix of small businesses and creative spaces. It works as two things at once: an upholstery studio and a retail store.
On the retail side, shelves hold upholstery fabric, foam and supplies, along with a selection of home decor. On the studio side, a workroom handles the heavier lifting, from full reupholstery jobs to custom cushions, slipcovers and window treatments.
That combination is the secret sauce. A customer can walk in needing just a yard of fabric and walk out with a plan for an entire living room.
The shop holds a 4.8-star standing across more than 120 public comments, which is a strong showing for any local business. Many of those comments come from people who describe coming back again and again.
Rochester has plenty of places to buy a new couch. Far fewer will help you keep the one you already love, and that difference is where this story really starts.
2. A Legacy Handed to New Hands
Some businesses change owners and lose their spark. Here, the new owners reportedly took over with a clear goal of keeping the spark alive.
The shop has been part of Rochester life for a very long time, with roots that reportedly stretch back close to half a century. Longtime customers remember shopping there more than 20 years ago, back when the store sold all sorts of fabrics and other goods.
The current team, which includes an owner named John and a business partner, has spoken publicly about wanting to preserve what made the store special. Their stated plan is to keep growing the business while carrying its history forward rather than starting over from scratch.
That is a refreshing approach. In a world of rebrands and fresh logos, keeping the old name and the old standards says a lot.
Customers who knew the shop under earlier management note that the lineup has shifted over the years. What has not shifted, according to regulars, is the level of care at the counter.
For a city that values its long-standing local names, a handoff like this feels less like a sale and more like passing down a family heirloom, which fits a business built on exactly that.
3. Same Standards, Newer Home
Moving a business can shake up loyal customers. In this case, the move seems to have done the opposite.
Fabrics & Findings now operates from its current location on Anderson Avenue, and longtime customers have noticed. Some who worked with the shop many years ago for drapes and other items have come back and found the company still going strong in its new spot.
That return trip tells a story on its own. People do not usually track down a fabric store after a relocation unless they trust it.
One longtime customer described visiting on and off for more than two decades, first for general fabrics and later for kitchen chair seats. The product mix had changed, yet the high service standards had stayed put.
That kind of consistency is rare. Plenty of shops keep the address and lose the attitude, while this one appears to have kept the attitude and changed the address.
For Rochester residents who remember the older version of the store, the current shop offers a familiar welcome. For newcomers, it offers a business that already knows how to earn a second visit, and a third, and a twentieth.
4. Bolts, Rolls and a Lot of Options
Choosing fabric can feel like a test nobody studied for. Thankfully, the shop’s selection comes with people ready to help with the homework.
Fabric selection is the single most talked-about feature of this store. Customers point again and again to the range of upholstery options available under one roof.
The variety goes beyond plain cloth. One shopper was surprised by the wide mix of fabric, lettering and related items packed into the store, and planned to return for more.
The owners openly admit there is a lot tucked into the space. They also mention that stock keeps changing, so repeat trips can turn up something new.
Staff patience gets credit here too. Upholstery projects come with plenty of choices, and the team makes a point of working through the details with each customer.
Several people describe staff offering helpful suggestions beyond what they originally came in for. That is the difference between a stockroom and a specialty store.
One customer replaced dark, dated cushions with a lighter, beach-inspired fabric that was also durable. The before-and-after change reportedly transformed the room, which proves the right bolt of cloth can do more heavy lifting than a new paint job.
5. The Remnant Section Payoff
Bargain hunters, this part is for you. Tucked into the store is a remnant section that has quietly built a fan club of its own.
Remnants are the leftover pieces from larger bolts, and they are often ideal for smaller jobs. A dining chair seat, a footstool or a pair of small chairs does not need yards and yards of material.
One customer had two sets of slipcovers made for two small chairs using fabric from the remnant section. The finished pieces came out well constructed, and the fabric itself was described as a great deal.
Another shopper was quickly guided to a few remnant options by a staff member. The same visit ended with foam being cut at no charge, which made the trip an easy win.
That kind of help matters. A good remnant bin is only useful if someone can point you toward the piece that actually fits your project.
For thrifty Rochester homeowners, the remnant section offers a way to get custom work without paying for more fabric than the job requires. Sometimes the best find in a fabric store is the piece somebody else left behind.
6. Fresh Foam for Flattened Favorites
Not every sad couch needs a new outfit. Sometimes it just needs a fresh core.
Foam is one of the shop’s quiet specialties. Customers come in for new foam for their favorite chairs, sofa cushions and outdoor seating, often after years of slow flattening.
One customer had two couch cushions refilled with new foam and said the couch felt brand new afterward. The same person praised the price, the turnaround time and the friendly service all together.
Another newcomer stopped in for foam for a beloved chair and was pleased simply to learn that Rochester has a specialized store like this. The owners have said they take pride in being exactly that kind of local resource.
Cutting service adds to the appeal. At least one shopper had foam cut free of charge, which saved both time and hassle at home.
For anyone tackling a project alone, getting the foam right is half the battle. The other half is having a team nearby that understands what thickness and shape a piece needs.
A sofa that sinks in the middle may not be finished after all. It may just be waiting for a short trip to Anderson Avenue.
7. Heirloom Rockers and Family Seats
A century-old rocking chair walked into a Rochester workroom. It walked out solid, comfortable and still wearing a grandmother’s handiwork.
That project captures the heart of this shop. A family brought in a rocker more than 100 years old, with a sagging seat, worn armrests and needlepoint fabric stitched by a spouse’s grandmother.
The family hoped to reuse the needlepoint if possible. The team found a way to work it into the restoration, and the result was described as gorgeous and sturdy.
Other pieces carry similar weight. One chair had been the favorite of a customer’s Nana and Mom, with original fabric dating to the 1920s, and the staff gave it a full transformation.
Another customer restored a grandfather’s chair, a man they had never met. The team helped choose materials and plan a restoration that fit the budget.
These stories show why rocking chair renovation comes up so often in local chatter about the store. The owners describe these pieces as meaningful projects, not just jobs on a list.
Some furniture holds memories that no showroom can replace. Here, those memories get handled with real respect.
8. Coaching for the Do-It-Yourself Crowd
Plenty of stores will sell you supplies and wish you luck. This one is known for staying in your corner.
One customer set out to recover and repair a rocking chair that had been in the family since at least his father’s childhood. He brought photos and pieces of the chair into the store.
A staff member named Mike studied the parts and explained exactly how to shore up the springs, replace the padding and finally cover it all in cloth. The customer called that guidance invaluable, and the finished chair turned out beautiful.
That is old-fashioned help in its truest form. Advice like this used to come from a neighbor with a garage full of tools, and now it comes from the counter on Anderson Avenue.
Home sewists and weekend fixers also lean on the store for smaller tasks. Kitchen chair seats are a popular starting point, and staff often add suggestions that improve the final result.
For first-timers, the process can feel overwhelming. Clear instructions from people who know the craft turn a risky project into a doable one.
Not everyone wants to hand off their furniture. For those who prefer to do it themselves, this shop makes sure they are not doing it alone.
9. Cushions, Slipcovers and Window Work
Chairs get most of the spotlight, yet the workroom keeps busy with plenty more.
Custom cushions rank among the most mentioned services. Patio furniture is a common candidate, and one recent customer was thrilled with a new set of outdoor cushions made by the team.
Slipcovers are another strong suit. One customer had a chair and ottoman reupholstered and then had slipcovers made for both pieces, calling the crew true professionals.
Window treatments round out the list. The shop has made curtains for at least one repeat customer twice, and others have ordered drapes and Roman shades.
That range is handy for anyone refreshing a whole room. A single shop can handle the sofa, the side chair and the windows, so the fabrics actually match.
Quality craftsmanship comes up repeatedly when people describe the finished work. Customers mention pieces that came out well built and still satisfying long after pickup.
A matching set of cushions and curtains may not sound exciting on paper. In a Rochester living room or backyard, though, it can make the space feel brand new without replacing a single piece of furniture.
10. The Names Behind the Needle
Ask around about this shop, and first names start popping up fast.
Vincent is one of them. Customers describe him as helpful, courteous and kind, with a knack for making fabric selection enjoyable rather than stressful.
One customer working against a deadline was amazed when the team finished three days early. Another credited Vincent for his care and follow-through on a slipcover order.
Jeremy earned praise for a patio cushion project, with the customer calling him a pleasure to work with. Mike, as mentioned earlier, has coached people through spring and padding repairs step by step.
Kind staff is a recurring theme in local chatter about the store. People describe the team as knowledgeable, patient and willing to go above and beyond.
The owners also make a habit of answering customers personally. Their public replies often mention specific projects by detail, from a family rocker to a set of patio cushions.
That personal touch fits the store’s longtime reputation. In an age of help desks and automated chats, it is nice to know a Rochester shop still has real names attached to real work, and those names keep getting mentioned for good reason.
11. Roadside Finds and the People Who Love Them
A chair left on the side of the road is usually headed for the landfill. One Rochester resident had other plans.
She brought her curbside find to the shop, and the team brought it back to life. She later called the business a treasure and said she could not wait to pick up her next project.
That story says a lot about who feels at home here. The shop suits heirloom keepers, thrift-store fans, budget-minded renovators and anyone who would rather fix than replace.
It also suits people with no plan at all. Several customers arrived unsure about materials or methods and left with a clear path forward.
The atmosphere leans practical and friendly. Staff take time with questions, and the store itself is packed with options that reward a slow look around.
Repeat business is common. Many customers describe coming back for a second, third or fourth project after the first one went well.
For a region that prides itself on making things last, the shop feels like a natural fit. A secondhand chair, a beloved sofa or a grandparent’s rocker all get the same serious attention once they come through the door.
12. Planning a Trip Around the Hours
Good news for early risers: the doors open at 8 AM on most working days.
Fabrics & Findings keeps hours from 8 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Friday. On Saturday, the shop opens a little later and closes earlier, running from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Sunday and Monday are closed. That schedule makes Saturday a popular choice for weekend projects, so arriving with plenty of time is a smart move.
Bringing the right materials helps. Customers have had success walking in with photos of their furniture, pieces of the chair itself, or measurements of the cushions they want replaced.
For bigger restoration work, an in-person conversation is the best starting point. Staff can talk through materials, construction and budget before anything gets cut or stitched.
The shop also keeps a website, which is handy for a first look before making the trip. Specific project prices are not published broadly, so expect to discuss costs based on the job.
Customers frequently mention fair value, especially with remnant fabric and foam work. A quick weekday visit may turn out to be the shortest path between a tired chair and a fresh one.
13. A Verdict Worth Sitting On
Some places sell products. This one sells second chances, one seat at a time.
Across years of work, Fabrics & Findings has built a reputation on patient staff, strong fabric selection and careful craftsmanship. Its 4.8-star standing reflects a long line of satisfied customers who keep coming back.
The shop’s real value shows up in the stories. A 100-year-old rocker kept its needlepoint, a 1920s family chair got a fresh start, and a curbside find became somebody’s favorite seat.
Smaller wins count too. New foam revived tired couch cushions, remnant fabric became sturdy slipcovers, and a deadline was beaten by three full days.
For Rochester residents, the shop offers proof that hands-on repair has not disappeared. Longtime customers who first shopped here decades ago still find the same standards behind the counter.
Not everything old needs replacing. Sometimes it just needs the right people, the right fabric and a little time in the workroom.
So before that worn armchair heads to the curb, it might deserve a ride to Anderson Avenue instead. Chances are, it still has plenty of years left in it, and this shop knows how to find them.
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