Company History Of Metropolitan Window Fashions
We are a third generation family business that has been serving customers of the Metropolitan area since 1934. We live and work in this community and support other small local businesses. We will always do the right thing for our customers, our associates and our community.
Timeline
1920
The Beginning
Our founder, Philip Heyman, comes to America as an orphan and finds a job with his Uncles, who own Heyman Brothers Furniture store in Jersey City. After working as a salesman and learning the retail trade for 14 years, he has saved enough money to open his own shop in Plainfield, NJ.
1934
First Store
Philip & Ida Heyman open Chain Decorators on Somerset Street in Plainfield.
1956
The Family Grows
Second generation Jay Heyman joins the firm.
1961
New Location
Philip and Jay Heyman open new store on Route 22 called Highway Mill End Shop.
1963
Contest!
A contest is created to name the new store – the winning entry was Highway Fabric Land – The winner, Geri Barton, receives a color TV!.
1990
Another Addition
Third generation Bruce Heyman joins the firm.
1996
Awarded
Fabricland Wins New Jersey Family Business of the Year Award. Pictured are 2nd generation owners Jay & Gertrude Heyman and 3rd Generation Bruce Heyman.
1999
Aquisition
Fabricland Interiors purchases Nassaus Window Fashions of Paramus. Now the two largest window fashions retailers in New Jersey are merged.
2004
New Location
Fabricland Celebrates its 70th Anniversary in Business. Our third store, Metropolitan Window Fashions, opens in New York City. To celebrate, we offer a $10,000 room makeover contest. Susan Malmrose of Randolph, NJ was our lucky winner.
2006
Metropolitan Window Fashions
All three stores now go under the name – Metropolitan Window Fashions – as we expand our offerings and become the largest independent retailer of custom, readymade & do-it-yourself window fashions in the metro area.
2007
Draperies and Window Coverings Magazine honors Metropolitan Window Fashions with it`s first ever Retailer of the Year Award. see image
2008
Awarded
Received Industry Achievement Award from the Window Covering Association of America for outstanding contributions and service to the retail window covering industry
2011
New Location
We move our Paramus store to a beautiful new showroom at 799 Route 17 South in Paramus – across the street from our previous location. We feature new custom drapery displays, motorized shades, a Hunter Douglas Gallery and a sampling of our readymade window fashions.
2014
80th Anniversary!
Metropolitan Window Fashions celebrates 80 years in business. The Heyman family is profiled in the Hunter Douglas Views Magazine.
2019
Green Brook Store
Metropolitan Window Fashions celebrates 85 years in business. They move into a beautiful new 9000 square foot showroom in Green Brook NJ. See Design NJ Article
2020
Metropolitan sells NYC store to Janovic
Metropolitan sells NYC store to Janovic – the legendary NY decorating company – in anticipation of the opening of our new store in Livingston NJ
Click here to read the story
2021
Negotiations
Metropolitan Window Fashions enters negotiations to purchase two of their long-standing competitors. Window Expressions in Lebanon NJ has been a Hunter Douglas specialist for over 20 years. The Fabric Yard in Basking Ridge has specialized in high-end fabrics, draperies and reupholstery. Owners of both companies were looking to retire and were happy to find a buyer with an excellent reputation to service their customers.
2022
New Stores
On January 3rd, 2022 Metropolitan completed the acquisition of Window Expressions. We are proud to serve Window Expressions customers with great service and even better pricing and design options.
On February 1st, Metropolitan completed the acquisition of the Fabric Yard. All employees of the Fabric Yard will remain on staff offering the same great service. We are pleased to now offer through this high-end location additional offerings of furniture and wall coverings.
In the Spring, Metropolitan will open their first store in Sussex County at 13 Main Street in Branchville – adding to their roster of stores in Somerset, Bergen, Essex and Hunterdon. Our FREE shop-at-home services are available in these counties in addition to Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Morris, Passaic and Warren counties.
2024
In 2024, we are proud to be celebrating our 90th Anniversary. We currently have five beautiful showrooms in Green Brook, Paramus, Livingston, Lebanon and Branchville. We offer a Free in-home decorating service for custom draperies, motorized shades, Hunter Douglas blinds and shutters, wallpaper and reupholstery. Stay tuned for special 90th anniversary promotions!