Honestly, it felt like the end of an era for local makers when those big yellow banners started appearing. If you grew up in the SCV, the Joann in Santa Clarita was basically the "Third Place" for anyone who knew their way around a bobbin or a hot glue gun. You’ve probably spent at least one frantic Tuesday night there trying to find the exact shade of "tulle" for a school project or a last-minute cosplay.
The store at 26583 Carl Boyer Drive—right there in the Centre Pointe area—wasn't just a shop. It was where people went to touch fabric before they bought it, which is something a website just can't replicate.
But things changed fast.
In early 2025, the rumors turned into reality. Joann Inc. hit a rough patch—actually, two rough patches—filing for bankruptcy twice in a very short window. While the first filing in 2024 was meant to be a "restructuring" that kept doors open, the 2025 filing was the final blow. By May 2025, the Santa Clarita location was officially on the chopping block.
The Reality of the Santa Clarita Store Closure
It’s weird seeing that massive space empty now. For years, that Carl Boyer Drive spot was the go-to for custom framing and endless aisles of fleece. Then, the liquidation sales started. It was a bit of a frenzy.
People were scoring 70% off home decor fabric and filling carts with yarn. But the vibe was definitely somber. Many of the long-time staff, people who actually knew which needle you needed for denim versus silk, were suddenly looking for new gigs.
By the end of May 2025, the doors locked for good.
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What’s moving in? It’s pretty much confirmed that Burlington (the store we all still call Burlington Coat Factory in our heads) is taking over the lease. It makes sense for the shopping center, but it leaves a massive hole for the local sewing community. You can’t exactly go to Burlington to get a yard of cotton-poly blend cut to size.
Why Did Joann in Santa Clarita Actually Fail?
You might wonder why a store that always seemed busy would just vanish. It wasn't just Santa Clarita; it was a nationwide collapse.
- The Amazon Effect: Let’s be real. A lot of us started ordering zippers and thread online because it was easier than driving to Centre Pointe.
- Inventory Ghosts: Toward the end, the shelves looked a bit... thin. The company was struggling with supply chain issues, meaning the stuff people actually wanted wasn't showing up.
- The Debt Load: Joann had a massive amount of debt from previous buyouts that they just couldn't outrun, even with the pandemic crafting boom.
It's a bummer. Local crafters now have to look elsewhere, and the options in the valley are getting slimmer.
Where SCV Crafters Are Going Now
Since the Joann in Santa Clarita closed, the "where do I go?" question is a big topic in local Facebook groups. Honestly, your options depend on how far you're willing to drive or how much you trust your own measurements.
1. Hobby Lobby (The Nearest Giant)
Located over on Bouquet Canyon, Hobby Lobby is the most direct "big box" replacement. They have a decent fabric section, but if you’re a serious sewist, you know it’s not quite the same. Their selection leans more toward home decor and crafts rather than high-end apparel fabrics. Plus, they have that whole "closed on Sundays" thing, which is usually when most of us realize we've run out of white thread.
2. Sewing Nuts (The Local Expert)
If you need high-end machines or very specific advice, Sewing Nuts in Santa Clarita is a gem. They are an authorized Bernina dealer. It’s a completely different experience than a big Joann store—more personal, more expert-driven, and way better for machine repairs. They also offer classes, which is great because the Joann workshops are a thing of the past now.
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3. Textilepop (Old Town Newhall)
For those who miss the community aspect, Textilepop in Old Town Newhall is holding it down. They offer sewing lessons for kids and adults. If you’re struggling with a project and miss the "ask a pro" vibe of the old Joann cutting counter, this is where you go. They do workshops on everything from "90s Blazers" to basic mending.
4. The Drive to the Valley
Sometimes you just need a massive selection. If you’re willing to hop on the 405 or the 5, there are still Joann locations or independent fabric shops in the San Fernando Valley. But with gas prices and traffic, that’s a whole Saturday gone.
What to Do with Your Old Joann Gift Cards
This is a big one. If you have a Joann gift card tucked in your junk drawer from Christmas 2024, I have some bad news.
During the liquidation phase in 2025, there was a strict cutoff for gift cards. Most reports indicate that once the liquidators (like GA Group) took over, they stopped honoring them or had a very short window before the "going out of business" sales began.
If you try to use one online now, you'll likely find the site is either non-functional for payments or simply won't recognize the balance. It sucks, but that’s the reality of corporate bankruptcy. Some people tried to file claims through the bankruptcy court, but for a $25 gift card, the paperwork is usually more a headache than it’s worth.
Actionable Steps for SCV Makers
Life after the Joann in Santa Clarita means changing how you shop. You can't just "pop in" for a single button anymore without a bit of a trek.
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Check out local sewing guilds. Santa Clarita has a strong community of quilters and makers. Joining a local group is the best way to find out about "fabric stashes" people are selling or trading. It’s also how you find out about the best independent shops that don't have big marketing budgets.
Stock up on the "notions." Since we lost our main hub, keep a "survival kit" of the basics:
- Extra universal and denim needles.
- Large spools of black, white, and grey thread.
- Rotary cutter blades (buy these in bulk online).
- Fusable interfacing.
Support the small businesses. Places like Sewing Nuts or the various quilting shops in the area need the local support now more than ever. They might be a bit pricier than Joann's "40% off" coupons, but the expertise you get is worth the extra few bucks.
The loss of the Santa Clarita store is a change, but the creativity in this valley isn't going anywhere. We just have to be a bit more intentional about where we get our supplies. Keep an eye on the old Carl Boyer spot—once Burlington opens, the parking lot will be busy again, even if the aisles look a lot different.
To stay ahead of the curve, verify your current project requirements before driving out of the valley for supplies. Audit your sewing kit for essentials like bobbins and specific thread colors to avoid mid-project stalls. Support local workshops at places like Textilepop to keep the SCV crafting community active and connected.