For many Minnesota creatives, the announcement of the nationwide closing of fabric and craft store Joann was a shock.

“The first thought was just devastation,” said Sarah Bahr, a Twin Cities freelance costume and scenic designer for theater, opera and dance. “This one store was this kind of one-stop shop for any sewing and craft needs for my industry.”

Dobbs DeCorsey of Minneapolis performs as drag queen Miz Diagnosis and sews and designs his own costumes.

“One hundred percent it will have a major impact,” DeCorsey said. “For someone who does drag in Minnesota, Joann Fabrics was one of our central hubs to get fabric. I think I probably get 70 percent of my fabric at Joann, and so this is fully going to change how I have to source fabric.”

“I think it will impact the Mankato community,” said Cathy Blaukat of the Deep Valley Quilt Guild in Mankato. “It’s going to be missed, for sure. I mean, a lot of times people just want to run over to Joann’s and pick up a yard of X-Y-Z fabric.”

Joann Inc., which was formerly known as Jo-Ann Fabrics, operates 21 stores in Minnesota, from Hutchinson to Hibbing. In January, the Ohio-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced the closure of 500 stores. This week, the company announced the closure of all 800 stores. A small group of German immigrants started the chain as the Cleveland Fabric Shop in 1943. 

Bahr is currently designing for The Effect, a play opening March 1 at the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis. Her process usually begins with going to a fabric store and her first stop is usually the locally owned SR Harris Fabric stores in Burnsville and Brooklyn Park. If she doesn’t find what she needs there, Joann is always her second stop. She’s concerned she’ll now have to buy from online retailers.

“Because I want to touch it, I want to see the color. I want to see how it drapes. I want to see how the pattern scale is,” Bahr said. “Looking online, you don’t get any of that. Photos are so deceiving, and so in-person fabric shopping is essential to getting the right look for costumes and fabric items.”

She said the absence of Joann will restrict her ability, and the ability of small theaters and emerging designers, to make last-minute design changes on a budget, too.

“We don’t always have the luxury of time, so that's what I'm personally struggling with,” Bahr said.

DeCorsey said the retailer was key for trims, buttons and last-minute items. DeCorsey is also the director of the new Pride Cultural Arts Center in Minneapolis; many of the costumes he created using fabrics from Joann will be on view in the center’s gallery for a solo show opening April 4.

“Joann, being a big box store, also had some pretty accessible hours, which was really convenient for me as somebody who works full time as well as does drag and designs costumes full time,” DeCorsey said. “So, getting to have an opportunity to run to a Joann’s at 8:30 at night was always very, very helpful.”

DeCorsey said he also frequents SR Harris, but he’s also looking to source materials out of state.

“With the volume of the costuming that I do, it is really worth it to take a trip to Chicago where they do have a full Garment District.” 

Blaukat, a quilter in Mankato, said local quilt shops such as River City Quilts will likely fill part of the void. Hobby Lobby and Michaels have some fabric, she said, but not the varied inventory of Joann. Quilters often use Joann to source interfacing and batting or fleece.

“I know a lot of quilters do not like to really order fabric online. We like to touch it and feel it and see the colors in person,” Blaukat said. “I know some of the older ladies in our quilt guild aren’t comfortable navigating online or purchasing online.”

Maggy Schneider runs the Sewing Lounge, a fabric shop in St. Paul. 

“I’m getting so many people in here who are Joann shoppers looking for their alternative store,” Schneider said. “There was a lady in from Lake Elmo this morning, and she said I’m the closest type of fabric store.”

Schneider said it could be a boon for her business.

“Hopefully there’ll be an uptick; I am pretty well stocked with notions and fabric, and so I’m looking forward to it actually,” Schneider said. “I have to say, I never saw this coming. Never did I dream that Joann’s would not be on the scene, so I'm sort of adjusting, too.”

Scott Harris, owner of SR Harris Fabrics, said he’s unsure of the impact this will have on his business. Joann’s vendors, he said, will likely be hit the hardest. 

“It could hurt a lot of them especially if [Joann Fabrics] were a big part of their business,” Harris said. “It will be interesting to see what they do and how it affects supply.”

Harris said there are not many apparel fabric stores left.

Joann “brought a lot to fabric and crafting and sewing over about 80 years. It is going to be a loss for people.”

Collected from Minnesota Public Radio News. View original source here.