House of Fabrics Profits Triple in 2nd Quarter

House of Fabrics’ fiscal second-quarter profit more than tripled from a year earlier, to $404,000, or 6 cents a share, from $115,000, or 2 cents a share. Sales edged up to $69.7 million from $69.3 million.

In the six months ended July 31, the company’s profit rose to $2.2 million, or 33 cents a share, from $1.3 million, or 20 cents a share, a year earlier. Six-month sales climbed to $143.2 million from $140.5 million.

The Sherman Oaks company, which operates 690 fabric stores, attributed the gains to its opening of more “superstores” that are larger and more profitable than its outlets in shopping malls. House of Fabrics said it plans to open 65 superstores this year while closing 90 mall stores.