Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Celebrates 66 Years of Inspiration

HUDSON, Ohio, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Founded in 1943, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, the leading fabric and craft specialty retailer in America, has been the destination for creative enthusiasts to sew, craft and grow for 66 years.

Sixty six of the best Jo-Ann customers across the country will be celebrating this anniversary with Jo-Ann when they receive special recognition for their loyalty to the company. These 66 lucky customers will receive $100 Jo-Ann gift cards from their local stores.

“Generations of sewers and crafters have been coming to Jo-Ann for more than six decades, and we think that’s a great reason to celebrate,” said Travis Smith, Chief Operating Officer. “We appreciate our customers’ creativity and we strive to serve their needs with a wide array of fabrics and sewing items, plus an extensive selection of crafting supplies, all under one roof. The gift cards are just our way of saying a special thank you to those 66 customers.”

Looking back on the past 66 years, below are key Jo-Ann milestones:

• From one 1,400 square foot store in 1943 to more than 750 locations across the United States employing more than 20,000 team members, Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. has not only witnessed a creative explosion in sewing and crafts, it has helped inspire it
• The first Jo-Ann store was named the Cleveland Fabric Shop; expansion in the 1950s and 1960s led to a new name, Jo-Ann Fabrics, which the two founding families chose by combining the names of their daughters
• In 1976, Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. joined the New York Stock Exchange
• During the 1980s and 1990s, Jo-Ann Stores began opening larger stores in strip shopping centers, adding crafts and floral products
• The chain grew in 1994 with the acquisition of Clothworld, a 342-store chain operating in the southern U.S.
• Joann.com launched in 1997, giving customers 24-hour-a-day access to creative projects and products
  

Today, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, (NYSE: JAS) the nation’s largest fabric and craft retailer with locations in 47 states, operates more than 750 Jo-Ann stores across the country providing consumers with creative inspiration. For additional information, visit www.Joann.com.

SOURCE Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.