The rumors were flying around Great Falls for months. You probably saw them on Facebook. Someone's cousin’s roommate heard from a clerk at Harbor Freight that the brand-new store in the mall was already doomed.
It felt like a bad joke.
After all, the Joann Fabrics Great Falls location had just moved. It left that tired spot on 10th Avenue South for a shiny new home in the Holiday Village Mall—taking over the old Fit Republic space in late 2024. Most of us figured a move that big meant the store was here to stay.
Then the news hit. It wasn't just a Great Falls thing; it was a national "everything must go" situation. By early 2025, the reality set in that the craft giant, which had been a staple in Montana for over 30 years, was shuttering all locations following a messy double-bankruptcy.
What Actually Happened to Joann Fabrics Great Falls?
Honestly, the timing was just weird.
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In November 2024, the store opened its doors in the mall with a lot of hype. It was supposed to be a fresh start. But behind the scenes, the corporate parent was drowning in debt. While local crafters were browsing the new "Creators' Studio" and checking out the improved lighting, lawyers in Delaware were already figuring out how to liquidate the assets.
It’s frustrating.
You’ve got a community of quilters and makers in Cascade County who rely on having a place to touch the fabric before they buy it. Ordering online is fine for some, but you can’t feel the "hand" of a cotton print through a screen. When the liquidation sales started in early 2025, the mood in the store was a mix of bargain-hunting frenzy and genuine sadness.
The Big Shift in the Craft Market
So, why did it fail?
Some analysts, like Neil Saunders, pointed out that Joann lost ground to giants like Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Others blamed private equity firms for saddling the company with debt it could never pay back.
But for us in Great Falls, it just means one less place to get specific notions.
The "concept store" features we saw briefly—like the open spaces for classes—were exactly what people wanted. People didn't just go for the 40% off coupons; they went for the community. Losing that leaves a gap that a website just can't fill.
Where to Find Fabric in Great Falls Now
Life goes on, and so does the sewing. If you’re staring at a half-finished quilt and wondering where the heck to go now that Joann Fabrics Great Falls is a memory, you aren't totally out of luck.
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- Michaels: They’ve actually been trying to court former Joann shoppers. They’ve beefed up their yarn and basic craft supplies, though their fabric selection is still pretty thin compared to what we used to have.
- Quilt Away: This is a local gem. Located on 2nd Ave N, they’ve been picking up the slack with an incredible schedule of classes. We’re talking everything from "AccuQuilt Nutcrackers" to "Beginner Bag Making."
- The Local Thrift Scene: Honestly, don't sleep on the local thrift stores for "up-cycling" materials. You can find some high-quality vintage linens if you're willing to hunt.
The Impact of the 2025 Liquidation
By the time May 2025 rolled around, the shelves at the Holiday Village Mall location were basically bare. The "going out of business" signs are gone now.
It’s a ghost town in that corner of the mall again.
It’s sort of a cautionary tale about big-box retail. Even a brand-new, beautiful store can’t survive if the corporate bones are brittle. For the local employees, many of whom were experts in their own right, it was a rough transition.
Actionable Steps for Great Falls Crafters
Since the physical Joann location is no longer an option, you have to change your strategy.
- Audit your stash. Most of us have more fabric than we’d like to admit. Now is the time to actually use those "too pretty to cut" yards.
- Support the local shops. Places like Quilt Away are the lifeblood of the local sewing community now. They offer hands-on help that no corporate store could match.
- Join a local guild. The Longarm Guild and other local sewing circles meet regularly in Great Falls. Finding a community keeps the hobby alive even without a big-box anchor.
- Check the Michaels app. They’ve bought some of the digital assets from Joann, so you might see some familiar brands popping up there.
The loss of Joann Fabrics in Great Falls definitely marks the end of an era for local makers. It was the go-to for decades. But as long as people in Montana keep creating, the craft scene here will find a way to adapt. It just requires a bit more intentionality and a lot more support for our remaining local businesses.