If you’ve driven past your local shopping center recently and noticed the familiar green and white sign looks a bit dark, you aren’t alone. The landscape for Jo Ann fabric locations has shifted so much lately that many crafters are genuinely confused about where to go for a yard of flannel or a specific shade of embroidery floss. Honestly, it's been a rough ride for the brand that basically anchored the DIY world for over 80 years.
We used to have roughly 800 spots across 49 states where we could just walk in, feel the cotton, and grab a zipper. But then 2025 happened.
What Really Happened to All the Stores?
It wasn't just a slow decline; it felt more like a freefall. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2025—which was actually the second time in a very short window—the company tried to "right-size." That’s corporate-speak for "we’re closing a bunch of stuff to save the rest." Initially, the plan was to shutter about 500 underperforming spots.
But the "rest" didn't really survive the auction block.
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By May 30, 2025, the final 444 stores were officially wound down. Liquidation sales handled by firms like GA Global Partners cleared out the remaining inventory, and the doors locked for good. If you're looking for physical Jo Ann fabric locations in 2026, you’ve likely realized that your old haunts in places like the Riverchase Promenade in Alabama or the Metro North Shopping Center in Iowa are now empty shells or being prepped for new tenants.
The Big Shift to Michaels
So, where did all that stuff go?
In a move that surprised some but made total sense to industry insiders, Michaels stepped in. They didn’t buy the physical stores—those leases were mostly part of the bankruptcy fallout—but they did snag the "soul" of Joann. Michaels acquired many of the private-label brands and the intellectual property. Basically, they saw the surge in people searching for "sewing" and "fabric" on their own site (which jumped nearly 40% when the Joann news broke) and realized they needed to be the new home for quilters.
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If you head to a Michaels today, you'll see a lot more fabric than you did three years ago. It’s not quite the same "endless aisles of bolts" experience, but it’s the primary physical alternative left in the big-box world.
Where to Find Supplies Now
- Independent Quilt Shops: These small businesses are seeing a major resurgence. Without a massive Joann nearby, the local shop on Main Street is often the only place to get high-quality quilting cotton.
- Online via Michaels: Since they bought the IP, you can find many of those old Joann-exclusive brands on the Michaels website.
- Walmart: They’ve kept their precut bundles and basic fabric bolts, though the selection varies wildly by region.
- Hobby Lobby: They still maintain a significant fabric section, though their aesthetic tends to lean more towards home decor and seasonal prints.
Why the Locations Disappeared
It’s easy to blame the internet, but it was a bit more complicated than just "Amazon won." Joann faced massive inventory hurdles. In court filings, they mentioned that production of key items basically stopped in some cases. When you can’t stock the shelves with the basics people come in for, they stop coming.
Combine that with roughly $1.1 billion in debt and a "constrained inventory position," and you get the perfect storm. The interim CEO at the time, Michael Prendergast, pointed to the "lasting challenges in the retail environment," but for those of us on the ground, it just felt like the stores were getting emptier and the staff was getting stretched thinner every month.
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Managing Your Projects Without a Local Joann
It kind of sucks when you just need one specific spool of thread to finish a project tonight and you realize your local store is gone. But the community has adapted. Many sewists have started "stash-sharing" groups on social media, and more people are turning to digital pattern marketplaces where they can print at home.
The loss of 800 physical Jo Ann fabric locations left a massive hole in the American craft scene. For decades, these stores were more than just shops; they were classrooms and community hubs.
Actionable Next Steps for Crafters
- Check the "New" Michaels: Visit your nearest Michaels to see if they’ve integrated the Joann private labels yet; many have already expanded their sewing sections significantly.
- Locate Your Nearest Independent: Use a tool like the "Quilt Shop Locator" online to find local, non-chain stores. They often offer better quality and expert advice you won't find in a big-box store.
- Audit Your Stash: Before buying online (and paying shipping), take a real inventory of what you have. Most of us have more "Joann leftovers" than we realize.
- Update Your Bookmarks: If you still have the old Joann app, you can basically delete it. Shift your digital shopping to specialized retailers like https://www.google.com/search?q=Fabric.com (owned by Amazon) or Missouri Star Quilt Co. for better variety.
The era of the massive, nationwide fabric chain might be over, but the actual craft of sewing is very much alive. It just requires a bit more planning and a few more clicks than it used to.