Beloved National Craft Store Staying In Business Despite Rumors Saying Otherwise
Most crafting enthusiasts in America have visited or at least heard of JOANN Fabric and Craft stores, and many were dismayed when rumors began circulating about the company going out of business. Certain headlines published in late November 2022 suggested that physical JOANN stores were closing. Online data showed that many people were searching to see if the rumors were true.
Fortunately, JOANN is happily entering its eighth decade of being one of the nation’s favorite craft stores. JOANN Fabric and Craft is only closing certain stores, like many retailers re-evaluating their post-pandemic business strategies. One of the first store closings will happen on January 15 at the Marion Centre Mall in Marion, Ohio.
The Marion Star newspaper reported that the store had begun a liquidation sale of its merchandise. No reason was provided for the closure of that particular location. Another closure will happen on January 22, in Bridgeport, West Virginia as part of an 11-unit mall renovation plan.
Another confirmed January 22 JOANN Fabric closure will happen in Keene, New Hampshire. Although store associates at that location were notified of the closure in October, they were not provided with a reason why. One employee confirmed to Yahoo!Life that the retailer’s lease is due to expire at the end of January 2023.
The closures will leave people in these locations with the burden of driving over an hour or more to reach the nearest JOANN Fabric and Craft brick-and-mortar store. However, JOANN fans will be able to find many of the materials they need on the company’s e-commerce site. Many can also transfer their craft shopping to a nearby Hobby Lobby or Michael’s store, as both sell similar types of fabrics, art supplies, craft materials, frames, and home decor.
In total, it appears that JOANN Fabric and Craft will only close eight stores in 2023. That represents less than one percent of its total number of retail locations. According to its website, JOANN operates around 850 stores in 49 states.
Shauntina Lilly, JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores’ public relations manager, told the CBS News VERIFY Fast Facts newsletter that reports of massive closures were unfounded. “In alignment with standard brick and mortar business processes, JOANN closes stores occasionally while simultaneously investing in, and opening brand new stores to best meet the needs of our customers,” Lilly wrote in an email.
The eight JOANN Fabric store closures will take place over the next three months. Some team members will receive severance packages, but the company did not provide details. As of the publication date of this article, JOANN had not shared details on future store openings despite their website including a page dedicated to those announcements.
Last month, JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores used its official Twitter account to address the rumors. “Any store closures that we have planned are part of our normal business evaluation process,” read the November 28 tweet. “We are definitely not going out of business or having any mass store closures.”
JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores was founded in 1943 as a single retail location in Hudson, Ohio. It has grown into the nation’s top fabric and craft specialty store, providing competitively priced materials for sewing, crafting, and home decor. The company’s price match guarantee is one reason for its popularity, as it eliminates the need to visit multiple craft stores to find the best price on fabric and craft supplies.
