Joann Fabrics, a longtime destination for fabric, yarn and craft supplies, is closing all of its retail locations—including its Bloomington store—as part of a nationwide shutdown.

While the local store, located in the Bloominton Commons near Barnes & Noble, remains open for now, Community teachers and students are already feeling the impact.

“I’m very sad to see it go,” theater department director Ms. Cassie Adelman said. “Joann’s was easy to navigate, well organized. I’d go in just to look at supplies, to get ideas.”

Adelman, who routinely used Joann’s for production needs and personal crafting, said the store’s convenience and layout made it a creative resource.

“I’m going to miss the fact that it was one of the easiest places to just walk around,” Adelman said. “It felt more contained—I could pop in, browse, and feel like I was actually looking for stuff.”

“I crochet, and they had a great yarn selection. That’s where I’d always go for supplies,” she said. “If I was in the middle of a crafting project, I’d go at least once a week.”

Beyond the personal impact, Adelman pointed to the broader value of stores like Joann’s.

“We have enough restaurants,” Adelman said. “What we need are more special-interest stores—places for niche hobbies or crafting. Joann’s filled that need. Yes, I can go on Amazon and get what I need, but being able to walk around somewhere, to shop like I could at Joann’s, that’s a huge benefit. It really makes the whole experience.”

Junior Alaina Kilian, the theater department’s head of props, said her team relied heavily on Joann Fabrics for production materials.

“We’ve used it for every show since my freshman year,” Kilian said. “We’ll still get paints from hardware stores, makeup from makeup stores—but props and costumes? That’s where Joann’s came in.”

Kilian said adapting to new sources may be more of a “curve” than a setback, but finding affordable, accessible alternatives could make production work more difficult.

Joann’s closure also affects Community’s Family & Consumer Science classes. 

Mrs. Laura Thomas, who teaches sewing and fashion design, said she’s relied on the store for years.

“We used to take field trips—‘Bring your money, we’re going to Joann’s,’” Thomas said. “It was always the first place I’d send students when they needed fabric.”

“Joann’s has always been [the store] that I recommend,” Thomas said. “They had the best selection of fashion fabrics—better than Hobby Lobby, which is more interior design or quilting.”

“I’ve always recommended Joann’s to students,” Thomas said. “It’s one of the first places I’d send them for fabric.”

Students in Thomas’s course sew pajama pants as a beginner project. While some shop online, Thomas said many prefer to choose fabric in person.

“Joann’s gave them that flexibility,” she said.

Now, she said, options are limited.

“The Sewing Studio in Hudson has a decent range—mostly cotton, geared toward quilters—but you can find flannel, which works great for pajama pants,” Thomas said.

Bloomington Normal’s remaining options—national chains Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Walmart—don’t offer the same benefits Joann’s did, Thomas said. Walmart sells only pre-cut fabric, compared to Joann’s by-they-yard system, lack Joann’s affordability and its consistent support for schools.

Joann’s, Thomas said, “gave discounts to both teachers and students —affordability “that matters.”

Thomas said the loss of Joann’s points to a broader economic shift.

“It’s just where we are in the economy,” she said. “Any store, at any time, could say, ‘We’re done.’”

Even as the company’s website remains active, it stopped accepting purchases as of March 5. And while no official closing date has been announced for the Bloomington location, the ripple effects are already being felt by Community’s creative community.