OAKHURST — Mountain area stitching and sewing fans rejoice: Bear Paw Quilts & More is back in business.
The new owners of the popular specialty sewing and fabric shop are holding a grand reopening on Saturday, Aug. 3. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the store, which is located at 40761 Highway 41 in Suite 7.
The exterior of Bear Paws Quilts just prior to the business’s closure in late June.
The business’s two new owners, Maria Ciccarelli and Karen Fronteras, both residents of Yosemite Lakes Park (YLP), are taking over Bear Paw from former owner Donna Henning, who closed the business in late June because of health reasons.
The new owners said this week they plan to operate the store much like Henning. Both women also plan to keep their “day” jobs — Fronteras is a hairstylist and Ciccarelli works for a private security contractor.
“Karen and I had been talking about opening our own quilt shop in YLP for some time,” Ciccarelli said this week. “Then Bear Paw came up for sale and it was just too good of an opportunity. We couldn’t pass it up.”
The new owners have brought in a truckload of fresh inventory for the store. Like Henning, Ciccarellia and Fronteras say they plan to offer quilting and sewing classes too.
“We’re going to amp up all of the classes,” Ciccarelli said.
Henning operated Bear Paw Quilts for 20 years, building a large, loyal local following that included a number of area quilting clubs and sewing circles.
The new owners also plan to update Bear Paw’s website.
Beginning Saturday, Ciccarelli said new store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This weekend’s grand reopening will include prize giveaways and discounts on new merchandise, along with information about new classes to be offered through the store. Definitely a stitch in time!
