SOUTH DEERFIELD — After four years operating on Routes 5 and 10, Wool-ology is closing its brick-and-mortar shop and will be expanding its online footprint.

The fabric and fiber shop specializing in wool at 242A Greenfield Road is closing its doors on Dec. 22, as the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic dampened business and led to the cancellation of some of the shop’s classes, which owner Deb Stratton described as the “backbone of the shop.” Stratton opened the store in 2018 with two partners, but took sole control of the store in 2019 when her partners went their separate ways.

“Did COVID kill me? Probably, in a roundabout way,” Stratton, 57, said as she was filling out online orders Wednesday afternoon. “I have no regrets. Everything happens for a reason.”

When Wool-ology closes, Greenfield Antiques & Collectibles, currently located on Federal Street in Greenfield, will be moving into the storefront. Greenfield Antiques & Collectibles plans to close its current location on Dec. 25 and will move into the space in January.

While the store was able to reopen its doors once pandemic conditions became safer, Stratton said Wool-ology’s classes never got back to full steam because teachers, who often came from around the country and the world, either were unable to enter the U.S. or had been away from teaching for so long they were no longer interested.

With the closure of the store, Stratton, who is a Greenfield resident, said most of her online stock will be potholder loop kits, which people can purchase to weave together their own potholders. Each pack is named after its colors, such as the Robin’s Nest Collection, which features white, turquoise and brown colors. The idea, Stratton said of these packs, is to provide weavers with an easily accessible and affordable way to make their own potholders.

She added that potholders have become a huge trend, particularly in the southern and western parts of the U.S. where many of her customers are located.

And while there is some sadness with closing the brick-and-mortar store, Stratton said this is far from the end of Wool-ology. In the final weeks there, she said she’s been working seven days a week to keep up with the massive demand of online sales, which have surged by 700%.

“The store is closing; we’re not going out of business,” Stratton clarified. “Business has been fabulous.”

Asked what she’ll miss the most about running the store, Stratton said she’ll cherish the “lifelong friendships” she and others made through the classes held at Wool-ology. She added that the influx of students and teachers also gave a bump to other local businesses in town, like Ciesluk’s Market and Holiday Pizza.

“You came in here as a stranger and you left as a friend,” she said. “The teachers that came in here were the most amazing.”

Classes may make a return in the future, too, as Stratton is considering hosting some sort of retreat for people to come together once more.

Once the store closes and she has more time, Stratton said she plans to “definitely take a breather” and spend time with her family and dogs, all while building up Wool-ology’s online business.

Stratton thanked Richard Bottego, of Richard’s Automotive, for allowing her and her partners to lease the space over the years and said Greenfield Antiques & Collectibles has found a perfect spot to move their business to.

“There’s no better landlord than Richard,” Stratton said, before joking that “he’ll still be my mechanic.”

Wool-ology’s Etsy page can be found at bit.ly/3uXxuDX. Wool-ology’s website, which Stratton noted is “under construction,” can be found at woolology.info.

Wool-ology closes on Dec. 22, and everything must go, Stratton said. The vast majority of items are priced at 50% off and the store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, although Stratton said she will also be open on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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