Major Retailer Closing Robinson Location

PITTSBURGH, PA — Fabrics and crafts retailer Joann is closing 500 of its 800 stores, including its 10 Pittsburgh-area locations. The move was announced Wednesday, a month after the chain filed for bankruptcy for a second time.

Court filings show that Joann will close stores in all 50 states, with Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Washington among those affected most, according to CNN.

Joann's Western Pennsylvania locations include:

• Belle Vernon

• Bridgeville

• Butler

• Cranberry

• Greensburg

• Monroeville

• Robinson

• Ross

• Tarentum

• West Mifflin

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."

Last March, the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and kept all of its stores open. At that time, the company said it had acquired $132 million in new funding which it planned to use to reduce its debt by approximately $505 million.

Sales at Joann had slumped after a jump during the pandemic, when Americans were isolated in their homes and spent more money on sewing and craft supplies. Due to the subsequent inflation, many people had to cut back on their discretionary spending.

The news comes as other major retailers have announced closures as well, with Kohl's notably among those last month.