Josephine's Dry Goods — Local services in Portland

I had heard good things about this shop and was excited to visit while I was in town 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, I had a series of VERY bad experiences. It has been weighing on me since then, so I feel compelled to post about it.

1. When I arrived most of the staff was not wearing masks, including the manager. At that point there had already been an indoor mask mandate in Oregon for 2 weeks.

2. No one asked me if I needed anything the whole time I was there. I took pictures of what I was interested in and decided to sleep on it before making a decision.

3. The next day, once I settled on what I would purchase, I decided I would call and confirm that the employees would be wearing masks. I thought perhaps it was just a fluke the day prior or at least a call would prompt them to follow to ordinance that day. I called to explained that I had been uncomfortable that employees were not wearing masks and I just wanted to make sure that they would be if I returned. I believe I was speaking with the manager, who had not been wearing a mask themself. I was met with hostility and told that there are medical and religious exemptions (which isn’t true, those only apply to vaccines). They said if it bothered me that I could come Tuesday, but I was leaving town before then. The call got increasingly uncomfortable and aggressive. They told me that if I had a problem with it I should come in and ask the employees individually why they aren’t wearing a mask. In the end I said I would not be shopping at their store and I sadly didn’t buy the fabrics I really wanted.

All of this is happening in a moment when Oregon is experiencing one of the worse covid/delta spikes in the country. I am especially disheartened because I expect more from our sewing community.

Additionally, Josephine’s lists here in the health and safety section of their profile that “Staff wear masks”. I am not sure how to report that it...

I really wanted to support a small, local business, so went to Dry Goods; with a goal of finding fabrics for a project I am working on. When I walked in the salesperson was on the phone, and did not even acknowledge that someone had come in. I was the only other person in the store. I had never been in before so wanted to take my time and look around. During the several minutes I looked around the salesperson stayed on the phone and, based on the very easy to hear conversation, was organizing her social life. At no time did she ask if I needed any help. I saw beautiful, overpriced fabric, some I might have even paid the price for but, given the lack of interest in my business I decided to leave. I did say thank you and good bye but, I needn’t have bothered, she never looked at me, just kept talking...

So incredibly kind and helpful!! By far my favorite fabric store in Portland. Great high quality options & competitive prices, and the nicest employees I’ve met at art/ sewing store by far. Becky was kind enough to help me set up & understand my new machine just out of kindness and wanting to support me getting into sewing. They also have an amazing selection of patterns that I have yet to find at any other store! I can’t recommend this place enough, and look forward to needing new/ more fabric just so that I can stop by again!! 100/10 stars, I LOVE Josephine’s! Becky is truly one of the kindest and most supportive influences in my sewing that I have met, I am forever grateful for her (thank you...