If you’ve driven down East Bluegrass Road lately, the sight of that massive, empty storefront probably hits a little different. For years, the Joann in Mt. Pleasant was more than just a place to buy thread. It was the frantic Saturday morning stop for a missing zipper, the place where local quilters debated the merits of cotton versus polyester, and the sanctuary for CMU students pulling all-nighters on fashion projects.
Honestly, the loss of Joanns Mt Pleasant MI feels like losing a neighbor.
It wasn't just a business. It was a hub. But in early 2025, the news finally dropped that this location, along with every other Joann in Michigan, was shutting its doors for good. People are still asking what happened, especially since the Mt. Pleasant store was initially on the "safe" list.
The Rollercoaster of Joanns Mt Pleasant MI
The story of the Mt. Pleasant location is actually pretty dramatic if you followed the bankruptcy filings. Back in early 2024, Joann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At that time, they told everyone not to panic. They secured $132 million in new funding and basically said, "We’re fine, we’re just restructuring."
👉 See also: Finding Your Best Look with Short Bob Haircut Images: What Most People Get Wrong
Mt. Pleasant survived that first round.
But the retail world in 2026 is brutal. Inflation stayed high, and people simply stopped spending as much on "discretionary" items like $40-a-yard designer fabric or decorative seasonal gnomes. By the time January 2025 rolled around, the company was forced back into bankruptcy court for a second time.
This time, the news was worse.
Initially, corporate identified a handful of "high-performing" stores in Michigan that they hoped to keep open. Mt. Pleasant was one of them! For a few weeks, local crafters breathed a sigh of relief. We thought we were the lucky ones. Then, in late February 2025, the hammer dropped: the winning bidders in the bankruptcy auction decided to liquidate everything.
📖 Related: As Thick as a Brick Meaning: Why We Still Use This Weird Insult
Every single store. Nationwide.
Why Mt. Pleasant Couldn't Just Stay Open
You might wonder why a store that seemed busy—especially during the "Fire Up Chips" rush at Central Michigan University—couldn't just survive on its own. It's complicated. Retail experts, including those interviewed by Newsweek and USA Today during the liquidation, pointed to a "perfect storm" of inventory issues and massive debt.
Joann was carrying over $1 billion in debt.
Even if the Mt. Pleasant store was making a profit, it wasn't enough to pay off the interest on the corporate debt. Plus, the store had been struggling with inventory for years. You probably noticed it yourself—shelves that stayed empty for weeks, or that weird period where they seemed to have plenty of yarn but almost no basic white elastic.
✨ Don't miss: What did God look like? Why the answer isn't in a painting
Shipping costs from overseas skyrocketed.
Consumer demand waned.
Online giants like Amazon and specialty sites like Spoonflower ate into their margins.
By the time the liquidation sales hit 40% off in the spring of 2025, the writing was on the wall. The store on East Bluegrass Road held its final "going out of business" sales, and by the end of May 2025, the doors were locked.
Where Everyone Goes Now
So, where is everyone going now? Since the Joanns Mt Pleasant MI closure, the local landscape has changed. If you’re a serious sewer or crafter in Isabella County, your options are... well, they're a bit slimmer.
- Hobby Lobby: They’re still around on Bluegrass Road, but as many locals know, they don't carry the same depth of apparel fabric or specific sewing notions that Joann did.
- Michaels: Great for floral and scrapbooking, but if you need three yards of upholstery-grade velvet, you’re probably out of luck.
- Local Quilt Shops: This is the silver lining. Small, independent shops in the Mid-Michigan area have seen a bit of a resurgence. They offer that expert advice you couldn't always find at a big-box store.
Many CMU students and local makers have shifted almost entirely to online ordering. It’s convenient, sure, but you can't "feel" the fabric through a screen. That was always the biggest draw of the Mt. Pleasant location. You could walk in, drape a bolt of fabric over your arm, and see how it moved. You can't do that with a thumbnail image on a website.
Actionable Steps for Local Crafters
The loss of a major retailer doesn't mean your hobbies have to die. If you’re still feeling the void left by the Mt. Pleasant closure, here is how you can pivot:
Check out the "Hidden" Gems
Don't overlook the smaller shops in nearby towns like Alma or Clare. Often, these local fabric stores carry higher-quality materials, even if their selection is smaller. They also offer classes that are usually much better than the corporate ones Joann used to run.
The "Swatch" Strategy
Since you're likely ordering online now, never buy more than a yard without ordering a swatch first. Sites like Mood Fabrics or https://www.google.com/search?q=Fabric.com (now part of Amazon) offer samples for a few dollars. It saves you from the heartbreak of a "navy" fabric arriving and looking like bright purple.
Inventory Your Stash
Honestly, most of us have a "stash" of fabric we bought at Joann five years ago and never used. Now is the time to organize it. Use apps like Cora or Stash2Go to track what you actually have so you aren't panic-buying online.
Join a Local Makers Group
With the physical hub gone, the social aspect of crafting has moved to Facebook groups and local libraries. The Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum or the Veterans Memorial Library often host "knit and crochet" nights. It’s a great way to trade scraps and tips now that the cutting counter "water cooler" is gone.
The vacancy at 4208 E. Bluegrass Road is a bummer. There's no sugarcoating it. But the creative community in Mt. Pleasant is pretty resilient. We've survived retail shifts before, and while we might have to drive a little further for the perfect bias tape, the making doesn't stop.
Keep your sewing machines oiled. The era of the big-box fabric store might be over in Mid-Michigan, but the era of the independent maker is just getting started.