Joann Fabric filed for bankruptcy for a second time in January, and now all of its stores are closing.
Six Michigan locations closed at the end of April, and the rest will remain open until the end of this month.
It isn’t the first time we’ve seen a big store like this close down. Think of it like Toys R Us. That was sad, but there was an easier alternative: buying toys online.
When it comes to fabric, it’s different because the quality and the feeling of it matter.
Earlier this week, All park, Bloomfield Hillsand Grosse Pointe Farms said goodbye to Joann Fabrics.
Now, only a few remain in Metro Detroit with big sales to get rid of inventory before all stores across the nation close down this month.
“Dead, sad. Everybody is really sad,” said Karen Lyons.
Local 4 stopped at the location in Madison Heights and caught up with shoppers who have been going there for three or four decades.
“Just had to come and see,” said Jody.
Joann gave them the chance to touch and feel what they’re buying, which they won’t be able to do with any online fabric store.
“It’s really hard to gage the colors online, you know, from what you’re gonna get versus what you see, and then can’t touch the quality of fabric either, to see if it’s too sheer for the projects and things like that,” Jody said.
“And I realize people don’t sew like they used to, but still, where do you go and get these things now? I mean, it’s going to be a huge hole in the market,” said Marci Solomich.
That’s a question Local 4 asked many of our viewers.
“I overheard one of the employees saying that Hobby Lobby is intending to up their game in that area. I think Michaels does carry some fabric. Walmart has a very small section of fabric.”
Some small businesses around Metro Detroit are looking forward to welcoming new customers.
“So I know a lot of people are a little concerned about shopping their local quilt shops because they feel they maybe get a little bit better deal at Joann, but we’re making sure that we’ve got our sale section stocked, as well as all of our best quality fabrics and lots of tools at discount prices,” said Decorative Stitch owner Sara Gallegos in Shelby Township.
Gallegos is taking this opportunity to hear from Joann’s customers.
“But I’ve been really kind of just asking a lot of questions of my customers, you know, the what are the things that you were purchasing at Joanne’s that I could make sure that I’ve got here in store for you?”
Gallegos said feeling the fabrics and seeing the quality is one benefit of not switching to online shopping, but more importantly, it’s the support you get from a local sewing store that’s there to help you every step of the way on your project.
“I hear stories all the time with people that bought a machine online or from a big box store and they weren’t successful and didn’t feel that they were a good sewist. In a lot of those cases, it’s just because there was a problem with the machine, and they don’t know the craft well enough to identify that it’s the machine, not them,” Gallegos said.
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