Joann Seeks to Close 500 of 800 Stores

Last month we told you about Joann filing for bankruptcy for a second time in less than a year with plans for a possible auction or sale to liquidator Gordon Brothers happening this month.

Today (Feb. 12, 2025) Joann filed a motion with the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court in Delaware seeking permission to close about 500 of its 800 retail locations as part of the ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings.

“Right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward for JOANN,” the company said in a statement.

In a filing with the court, the company said these stores were identified for closure because of their underperformance that would make them “unlikely to be considered or included in any going concern bid” for purchase of the company. “Given the expense of operating each of the Debtors’ [that’s Joann] retail stores, the Debtors believe it is in the best interest of the Debtors’ estate to immediately commence Store Closing Sales at the subset of underperforming stores.”

The filing also seeks the right to close additional stores in the future and expects to begin store closure proceedings as soon as possible after the hearing, which is set for Feb. 14, if the plan is approved. Any future store closings will be filed with the court and the landlords or other interested parties would have 10 days to object before store closure procedures would begin.

The plan also calls for ending store gift cards and no longer accepting returns, exchanges or granting refunds, and these policy changes would apply to all stores, not just those that are closing, and be effective starting 14 days after approval of the plan. (You can find the brief here as docket 385.)

In an FAQ for customers on the restructuring website (linked below), Joann says if the plan is approved store closing sales would begin Feb. 15 “and could continue for several months.” In the meantime, all stores and the Joann.com website will be open for regular business (no word if there will be liquidation prices on items on the website).

They also noted that they are still seeking alternative bids to the previously reported Gordon Brothers bid, but if that goes through all stores will close.

To check if your store is on the list of 500, go to the Joann restructuring website, scroll to the bottom and you’ll find a link to the store closure list at the bottom right. I’m happy to report my store seems to be safe for now but it sounds like that could change quickly. We’ll continue to update you with Joann bankruptcy news as it happens.

I rarely understand why something becomes a trend in crafting. Gnomes and geese are both cute I guess, but I never thought we’d be making them for all seasons. (See, for example, this collection of gnome knitting patterns, or these knit geese.)

Another one I don’t totally understand is sardines or little fish more generally. Sure, they’re cute, and the shape is fun, but I had no idea when I was sharing this pattern for a fish-shaped pouch last year that it would become a hugely popular pattern that people are still searching for on the site. It is pretty cute, though, so if you weren’t around then or don’t remember you should got check it out.

Recently another fishy knitting pattern crossed my monitor: the little knit fish from Classical Songbird Designs.

Just as the name suggests, these fish are little, about 4.5 inches or 11 cm from end to end. They look like little sardines and take about 12 yards of sock yarn to make.

You can even make a two-tone fish and use just 6 yards of each color.

This sounds to me like just about the perfect use for the yarn that’s left over after knitting a pair of socks, or a mini skein or several that have been sitting around unused in your stash.

The fish are knit flat in one piece, which makes it easy to stitch on the eyes with more yarn or embroidery floss before stuffing, and you can stitch up the sides while you stuff (though it’s not a very big piece so you could probably stitch and then stuff, finishing with the end of the tail).

Because I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one wondering, I measured an Altoids box and as the pattern is written the fish are a little too big to fit in it (the box is about 4 inches/10 cm long). But you could make the fish a little smaller if you want to make a box of them. Or just make a fishy bag to put them in!

You can grab the free pattern for the little knit fish at Classical Songbird Designs.

[Photo: Classical Songbird Designs.]

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