UPDATE: As of this morning, it was announced that in addition to the original 500 stores closing, the remaining 300+ stores will also be liquidated.
My local JoAnn Fabrics Store is closing.
I am not surprised, as I’ve been following this saga since their original bankruptcy filing last year.
The Monday before the decision on the latest filing was announced I paid a visit to our local store for a final walk-through. The closure list had not yet been released, but I was fairly confident our store would be included, so I wanted to take one last look before the close-out chaos ensued.
As I wandered through the store, I made my way back to the pattern section and paused before the heavy metal cabinets, which boasted patterns for $1.99.
I shifted to the tables and their slanted tops that held oversized volumes of inspiration from McCalls, Simplicity, and Butterick. Feeling saddened by the prospect of what was to come, I settled into a chair to better examine the pattern books. I opened the Simplicity book and skimmed through to the costume section.
Leafing through the pages, I made a mental list of patterns I wanted but had not yet picked up. The beautiful costume photos made me pause, and I wondered if this would be the last time I would sit down at this table and flip through these pages.
Suddenly, it hit me: many cherished memories from my sewing adventures began at a table just like this one.
In my younger years, I had visited these tables with my mom. Here is where she would choose our Easter and Christmas dresses, along with fun home crafts. At this table, she would help me select patterns and fabrics for Home Ec, 4-H, and other fun projects.
In 1989, I hired a seamstress to create my wedding dress based on a photo in Bride’s magazine. We laid out fabric, lace, and beading and pieced the dress together, referencing patterns in books like these at a table like this.
In 1991, we purchased our first house and got our first dog. At a table like this one, I picked out the pattern and fabrics to make her dog bed, as well as the Christmas tree skirt and stockings for our new home.
In 1993, we were pregnant. I didn’t like any of the crib sets on the market, so I hit up the fabric store for a white eyelet fabric and a pattern. In 1999, with our second son, I again opted to make his crib set and was back at this table.
In 1994, we hosted our first annual Halloween party, and I was back at this table in search of a pattern for a wizard costume I could make using vibrant blue lamé fabric.
Also in ’94, I was pushing a stroller into JoAnn’s to shop for costume ideas for Halloween. This visit marked the beginning of many trips to come over the next sixteen years – each of which would begin at this table.
Many other occasions have brought me back to this table – more costumes, gifts, home decor, etc. and now, at least locally, it’s coming to an end.
I pushed my chair away from the table and made my way to the pattern-filled drawers.
Scanning the number range on the cabinet, I pulled open the drawer and leafed through the contents until I found the pattern number I was after. I took my time, very aware that this is, in a way, the end of an era.
Perhaps I’ve taken JoAnn Fabrics for granted. I just assumed that it would always be there. I even imagined toting future grandchildren into the fabric store to sit at this table, flip through the books, and be a part of planning their Halloween costumes.
Maybe that’s still possible, but just not here.
The part JoAnn Fabrics played in every costume made and every dream brought to life makes it hard to say goodbye, so instead, I’ll just say –
JoAnn, thanks for the memories.
