Two craft stores around Charlotte region to close as retailer struggles with bankruptcy

Two JOANN fabric stores in the Charlotte region are among the ones that will be closing as the popular arts and crafts retailer grapples with bankruptcy and an expected sale.

JOANN at 221 Norman Station Blvd. in Mooresville and E132 Morganton Heights Blvd. in Morganton are among about 500 “underperforming” stores the company wants to begin closing, according to a motion filed Wednesday seeking court approval in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Four other North Carolina stores on the list are in Asheville, Hendersonville, Goldsboro and Rocky Mount. In South Carolina, stores are in Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Florence and Spartanburg.

“A careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the company determined which stores should remain operating as usual at this time,” JOANN’s court motion stated.

The 82-year-old, Ohio-based company has more than 800 stores in 49 states, according to JOANN’s website.

Two JOANN fabric stores will remain for now in the Charlotte region at 9523 South Blvd. and in Monroe Crossing Mall at 2115 W. Roosevelt Blvd. in Monroe.

JOANN officials declined to answer how many employees will be affected in the Charlotte region, referring to the court motion statement.

JOANN bankruptcy filings

On Jan. 15, JOANN filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and initiated the process for a sale.

The bid deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 12, with Boston-based asset liquidation firm Gordon Brothers Retail Partners as the only bid on record as of early afternoon. Gordon Brothers bought Big Lots last month.

JOANN filed for bankruptcy in March 2024, emerging a month later as a private company with all of its stores remaining open.

Last month, JOANN said six stores would close, which included one North Carolina store at 2102 US Hwy 70 SE in Hickory, local and national news outlets reported.