JoAnn Fabrics Fans Form Crafts Co-op to Replace Bankrupt Retailer

US crafters are organizing to establish a communal network aimed at filling the void left by JoAnn Fabrics, a store that served as a vital hub for small businesses including wedding dress makers, upholsters, milliners, and rug repairers. The company was one of hundreds of US businesses bankrupted by private equity investors in 2025, an event that has left its dedicated fans feeling a significant loss.

For many, JoAnn Fabrics was more than just a retail location; it was an educational space that taught generations to make, fix, and craft. The physical experience of visiting the store sparked new ideas in a way that online shopping could not replicate, a function that the proposed crafts co-op seeks to restore for the community.