The Bloomington JOANN Fabrics and Craft store will close along with around 500 other locations nationwide. The closure comes after JOANN Fabrics and Crafts announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early January.
Bloomington JOANN Fabrics and Crafts team member Lydia Wypasek said the news was devastating, losing not just their place of work, but a safe personal space.
“I've loved working here so much. I've been through a variety of different retail jobs and restaurant jobs, and this is one of the first places where I felt truly happy,” Wypasek said. “It's such a shame to lose a place that's just been such an important part of my life, that's been such a good part of this community.”
Wypasek thanked local customers for being a key part of their great experience at the store for the year and a half they worked there. They plan to apply to Michaels once JOANN officially shuts down.
Store regular Kyle Medaris shared his sadness. He both enjoyed and used the store to get supplies for making crafts.
“I get yarn, fabric, pillows and blankets,” Medaris said. “I make all kinds of different little styles of things: blankets, pillows, socks, scarves, baby blankets and pacifier holders.”
He doesn’t know where he’ll go now for supplies.
“Very sad to hear the store was closing, because I do not like to shop online, so coming in is a lot easier,” Medaris said. “It’s very upsetting, and I feel unprepared.”
There is now a storewide liquidation sale offering discounts of 10-20%, but no official closing date has been announced.
Wypasek said the store is operating as usual, but store employees don’t know if the store will receive new shipments or what to expect in the coming weeks.
This JOANN store is one of the 20 in Indiana closing, and one of the 197 closing across the Great Lakes region.
