Crestwood Joann Fabrics Store Slated For Closure

CRESTWOOD, IL — The bad news keeps coming for employees and customers of Joann Inc., a popular fabric and craft retailer, which announced plans Wednesday to close 500 of its 800 stores, according to multiple sources.

Joann on Wednesday filed a court motion to start its closures, according to the financial and risk advisory agency Kroll, which is assisting Joann with its claims. This comes after the company filed for bankruptcy for a second time in less than a year. By closing “underperforming stores,” the fabric and craft retailer hopes to make itself more appealing to a potential buyer.

A list of store closures shows that Joann will shutter stores in 49 states, with California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington among those most affected. Hawaii is excluded from the closures.

In Illinois, 26 stores across the state are slated for closure, including the Joann Fabrics and Crafts store at 4917 Cal Sag Road, Crestwood. The fabric and craft retailer has not announced when it will start closing stores, and if close out sales will be offered.

Joann started with a single storefront in Cleveland over 80 years ago, emerging as one of the largest sewing and fabric chains in the United States, the company claimed on its website. Joann grew to include 831 locations across 49 states, along with a “robust” e-commerce business.

Unlike an older generation that purchased fabric for everyday garments, school clothes, drapes, bedding and the like, fewer younger people today don’t sew, and sewists have turned to shopping online for fabric.

Joann started with a single storefront in Cleveland over 80 years ago, emerging as one of the largest sewing and fabric chains in the United States, the company claimed on its website. Joann grew to include 831 locations across 49 states, along with a “robust” e-commerce business.

A company spokesperson said that “right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward.” The spokesperson also told USA Today it was “a very difficult decision to make, given the major impact we know it will have on our team members, our customers and all of the communities we serve.”