After over 80 years in business, Joann is shuttering its roughly 800 stores across the U.S.
In Chico, Joann has been a hive of activity since the announcement. This week, residents crowded between pillaged aisles to refill their fabric supply one last time before the store’s closure.
Amanda Hayes is the director of corporate communications and engagement for Joann. She told NSPR that this is not the outcome they hoped for.
In a statement, the company said it has been sold after filing bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year. Hayes said the company wanted to remain open, but its new buyer has begun winding down operations in stores across the country and selling the remainder of Joann's stock.
Many in the North State are saddened by the loss of the fabric giant.
Kelly Knox is the president of Annie’s Star Quilt Guild. The guild meets every month to work on projects together, invite guest presenters to teach lessons and create gifts for local charities and hospitals.
Knox says for some, Joann’s closure is devastating.
“It’s going to be a shame that there's going to be a lot of things missing, because they do more than just fabric,” she said. “The crafts and the draperies, there's a lot that we're going to miss.”
Even so, Knox says Joann’s closure is not entirely surprising.
“I have some real mixed feelings about Joann’s because I think they've been poorly managed. I've had some concerns, and certainly the last three or four months have been pretty desperate,” she said. “So I think perhaps this was a long time coming.”
Dan Jenks owns Cathy’s Sew & Vac. Now, the only fabric store in town. He began the business 49 years ago and named it after his wife, Cathy, who he’s been married to just as long.
Jenks said Joann’s used to be a place where people could learn and connect.
“Joann's used to be different, but they turned out to be just somebody that just sold fabric,” Jenks said. “They weren't really too much into introducing sewing, like they used to be.”
He said Joann’s closure will hurt the North State’s sewing community, but it may also be a good thing in the long run for small businesses like his own.
Small businesses may not be able to match the low prices offered by big corporations and online retailers, but Jenks said they can offer a place for community learning, expertise and human connection.
Sewing is a communal skill often passed down from generation to generation. Knox said she learned how to sew from her mother, who was taught by her great-grandmother.
Knox said now more than ever, members of the sewing community need to support small businesses like Cathy’s and come together again and support each other.
“I think this is a great time for people to join guilds and become groups, because we can share our resources,” she said. “I think that we gotta stick together, and we all have to work as a team. And even if that's just having fun and sewing, we can all do it together and help each other out.”
