If you have shopped at Joann for years or just picked up a last-minute craft kit once, the news probably hit hard. Joann, the well-known fabric and craft store chain based in Hudson, Ohio, is officially shutting down all of its remaining stores this May. This comes just a month after the company permanently closed 255 locations in April.
Why is Joann closing all of its stores?
So, what happened? In February, Joann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year. That same month, the company auctioned off all of its assets. Retail liquidator GA Group and Joann’s term lenders ended up winning the bid. That was the beginning of the end.
Like many other brick-and-mortar stores, Joann struggled with declining foot traffic, increased online competition, and changes in consumer shopping behavior post-pandemic. The bankruptcy sealed its fate, and by March, going-out-of-business sales began rolling out nationwide.
When will the rest of the Joann stores close?
You may have already seen your local Joann with “Store Closing” signs up. If not, chances are it will happen very soon.
According to Jo Anne McCusker, spokesperson for GA Group, 255 Joann stores shut their doors for good in April—112 of them on April 28 alone. The remaining locations are expected to close sometime in May. Joann has not released a specific closure schedule for each store, but if you still have gift cards or want to grab last-minute deals, now is the time.
Once May ends, there will be no more Joann stores operating in the U.S.
What is GA Group and what are they doing with Joann?
GA Group is a retail liquidation company that has worked with Joann in the past. In fact, they helped Joann expand during better days—like when they acquired House of Fabrics in the late 1990s and grew their store count between 2006 and 2016.
Now, GA Group is handling the closure and liquidation process. Their CEO, Scott Carpenter, shared that they are not just focused on shutting stores down. They are also trying to support Joann’s roughly 19,000 employees. According to Carpenter, the company is launching a “multimillion-dollar retention plan,” which includes job fairs and allowing staff time off for job interviews.
While that may not make up for losing a job, it does offer some relief to the workers affected by the closures.
Which Joann stores have already closed?
If you are wondering whether your local store is already gone, there is a good chance it might be. The 255 locations that closed in April were spread across dozens of states—from Alabama to California to Alaska.
Some notable closures include:
- Anchorage, AK (University Center) – Closed April 23
- Casa Grande, AZ (Tri Valley Plaza) – Closed April 25
- La Verne, CA (La Verne Plaza) – Closed April 26
- Fort Smith, AR (Fort Smith Marketplace) – Closed April 28
- Tuscaloosa, AL (Freestanding location) – Closed April 27
These are just a few examples, and dozens of others followed suit throughout April.
What should you do if you still have a Joann gift card?
If you are holding on to a Joann gift card or store credit, you should use it as soon as possible. Since all remaining stores will close in May, your window to spend those funds is quickly closing too.
Going-out-of-business sales are happening across the board, so you might even get a good deal while using your remaining balance. Just do not wait too long—once your local store is gone, the gift card will be worthless.
