by After filing for bankruptcy twice in less than a year, JOANN Fabrics officially announced on Feb. 23 that it was going out of business.
JOANN sold various craft supplies and materials for over 80 years, with around 800 locations across the United States.
Now that JOANN is gone, Twin Cities creatives are wondering where they can find their fabric and craft supplies.
Down on Grand Avenue South in the southwest Minneapolis area sits Good Yard Goods, a fabric shop owned by Cindy Blum.
Blum has been selling fabric for over 15 years but only opened the physical shop two years ago.
Blum says her shop is special because she sells vintage fabric that isn’t available anymore.
Regarding the JOANN closures, Blum said collaboration with the other small fabric businesses is crucial.
“And that’s another thing with the other local shops, I think we all kinda have to put our heads together and see if we can up our game,” she said.
On the other side of Minneapolis, on Johnson Street in the northeast area, sits Knit & Bolt.
Megan Boesen opened Knit & Bolt eight years ago to replace a different fabric store that went out of business.
“It came about because we wanted to keep crafts and that community in Northeast Minneapolis,” she said.
Knit & Bolt specializes in natural fiber fabric, along with offering special classes and events for creatives of all talent levels.
Customers praised Knit & Bolt for its special style and quality.
“As a business owner, they bring their own touch to things, it’s not generic,” said customer Heidi Green.
Another customer, Nancy Asmus, agreed.
“You can often find things that you can’t find at the big box stores,” she said.
Small businesses work to create an intimate and personable community that chain retailers can’t provide and are hoping to grow that community.
“The upside is that people are going to be going around to more local places, our places, the places in St. Paul, the places in south Minneapolis, and they’re really going to start becoming part of the community,” Boesen said.
