JoAnn Fabrics fans seek to stitch void left by private equity with crafts co-op

US crafters are looking to build a communal network to replace the company after it was bankrupted by private equity investors in 2025

To its dedicated fans, JoAnn Fabrics wasn’t just a fabric store. It was a vital hub for small businesses – wedding dress makers, upholsters, milliners and rug repairers. It taught generations to make, fix and craft. A visit sparked new ideas in a way that shopping online just can’t replicate.

Since it became one of hundreds of US companies bankrupted by private equity investors in 2025, it has been sorely missed.

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