James Castle Opened a Sewing Shop in 1942. Three Generations Later, His Family Still Runs It in Langley

Visit Castle's Sewing Centre

Address: Unit A125, 19748 86 Ave, Langley, BC

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:30 am to 5 pm. Closed Sunday.

Good to know: Free unlimited instruction comes with every machine you buy there. Out-of-town customers can call 1-800-284-6680.

Since: 1942, family-owned for three generations

Started by James Castle

The story starts in 1942. That's when James Castle opened the business that still carries his name. “From the beginning, James Castle believed in providing the best in sewing technology, products & service to every customer,” the company writes on its website.

In 1982 his daughter Irene and her husband Jim Bulman took over, along with their son Clint. Clint's wife Stephannie joined the team in 1986. When Irene and Jim retired in 2002, Clint and Stephannie carried on.

Moved by the SkyTrain

For about 60 years the shop sat on Fraser Highway. Then the SkyTrain extension came through. The family relocated in 2023 to a bigger showroom in a business complex on 86 Avenue, according to its site.

The new place has a classroom set up with machines at every table, plus walls of thread and fabric. Look for Unit A125.

Insider highlight

When you buy a machine here, you join their “sewing family.”

Castle's Sewing Centre, on its website

Fixed by people who've done this for decades

The service department works on all brands of sewing machines and sergers. The technicians each have more than 40 years of experience and are factory trained, the shop says.

That matters if you've inherited your mother's machine and it makes a noise like a lawnmower. Bring it in.

Joining the 'sewing family'

Buy a machine and the lessons come with it, free and unlimited. A new machine or serger also gets you a VIP membership with 10 per cent off regular-priced fabric and notions, plus accessories.

Castle's runs classes too. This past summer it held learn-to-sew sessions for teens and adults, whether or not they owned a machine yet. The class list goes out by email, so sign up on the home page.

Photos: Castle's Sewing Centre.