Our Closing JOANN Store...

Jo-Ann Fabrics has been a part of my entire life. It was my go-to store for fabrics and more. Our Temecula location has been threatening closure since February. Today's stop proved the end is nigh!

For those who don't have the crafting bug, JOANN, a once-dominant fabrics and crafts retailer, has a history rooted in 1943 when three German immigrant couples opened the Cleveland Fabric Shop. The store, which later became Jo-Ann Fabrics in 1963, catered to a community rebuilding after World War II, fueled by the need for affordable sewing supplies. Over the years, it expanded, acquired other chains, and eventually became a publicly traded company. In 2018, the company rebranded to JOANN to reflect its broader offerings beyond just fabrics. However, it faced challenges in recent years, including high debt, management upheavals, and a changing retail landscape, which has ultimately lead to its bankruptcy and the closure of all stores in 2025. Our Temecula store has two more days. I actually got teary thinking about it. Thankfully, I got a fantastic deal to ease my sorrow.

It was a spontaneous decision to stop today and boy was I rewarded. I was perusing the remaining 12" X 12" scrapbook paper when I heard someone trying to get my attention. Behind a shelving unit, between me and the checkout line, was a woman offering me a buying opportunity. It was rather comical. "Hey lady, if you buy all the remaining paper at 90% off, I will give you 50% off your total purchase!" I'm not too quick with math and I didn't need all those sheets of crafting goodness but paper products are like a drug to me and I am very easily tempted. I took the bait and went even deeper into the rabbit hole and asked if I could purchase one of the storage racks. "If you take all the paper, I'll throw in two of the racks! You are really doing me a favor." Oh my gosh, she was feeding my addiction and I was hooked.

The manager was actually a very sweet gal who was trying to do her job and also make a magic moment for me. She put me in the hands of cashier Jacob who stacked all the paper up and measured it (knowing that this paper is roughly .005" thick, he charged me for 6 inches of it at the least expensive price- 7￠a sheet). Needless-to-say, it was one of my best shopping bargains and it truly was a magic moment.

I just had to set it all up to showcase my haul. The retail value would be many hundreds of dollars. The receipt states that I saved $372.67 (a conservative number to say the least). And how much did this treasure trove set me back? Drumroll please...$23.77. That said, we're going to have to build a shed in which to store it all but what a deal!

JOANN isn’t the only craft shop I frequent, but it is easily the best for buying fabric. The reason it’s such a big deal that it’s closing is because other stores don’t have the same range and quality of fabrics — or the same sales. My Mom was a seamstress and I have been known to sew a Halloween costume or two. I've spent a lot of happy hours in the aisles of JOANN. There is no other store like it and I feel a sadness at this loss. Truly the end of something good. Yes, sad.