The news hit the local sewing circles like a ton of bricks. If you’ve spent any time at the shopping center on NE E Street, you know the vibe. It’s that familiar smell of bolts of cotton and the rhythmic thwack-thwack of the cutting counter. But the Joann Fabrics Grants Pass location, a literal sanctuary for Josephine County makers, is officially on the chopping block.
It isn't just a "downsizing" anymore. It's a total liquidation.
Honestly, walking into the store lately has felt a little... off? The shelves weren't as packed. You’d go in for a very specific YKK zipper or a yard of Interfacing, and you'd find empty pegs instead. This wasn't just a Grants Pass problem; it was the canary in the coal mine for a brand that basically held a monopoly on the local fabric scene for years.
The Reality of the Joann Fabrics Grants Pass Shutdown
So, what actually happened? Well, it’s a bit of a corporate mess. Joann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy not once, but twice in a very short window. By early 2025, the writing was on the wall. While the company tried to "right-size" (corporate speak for firing people and closing doors), the debt was just too heavy.
The Grants Pass store at 1090 Northeast E Street was among the 15 Oregon locations slated for permanent closure.
It’s a massive blow. For a lot of folks in Southern Oregon, this was the only place to physically touch a fabric before buying it. You can't feel the "hand" of a textile through a smartphone screen. You can't tell if a certain yarn is going to be too scratchy for a baby blanket by looking at a JPEG.
Why Grants Pass lost its creative hub:
- Inventory Ghosting: Suppliers stopped sending new stock because the company couldn't pay its bills.
- The Debt Trap: Private equity firms loaded the company with debt years ago, and interest rates basically ate the profits.
- The "Vampire" Effect: While store shelves went bare, executives were still taking home massive bonuses. People in the local Reddit threads are, rightfully, pretty steamed about that.
Where Are We Supposed to Go Now?
Grants Pass isn't exactly a fashion district. When a giant like Joann leaves, it creates a "craft desert." If you're looking for alternatives, the options are... okay, but not great.
✨ Don't miss: Online Provident Fund Withdrawal: How to Actually Get Your Money Without the Headache
Jordan Fabrics is right here in town on NE 6th St, and they are legendary. Seriously, Matt and Donna are pros. But there's a catch: they are online-only for the public. You can't just wander in and browse the aisles on a Tuesday afternoon. They run a tight ship through their website, which is fantastic for quilters, but it doesn't replace the "I need this thread right now" emergency run.
Then there's Walmart. Look, their craft section has gotten better. They carry Waverly cottons and Red Heart yarn. But if you're looking for high-end linen, upholstery fabric, or specialty dressmaking notions, you’re basically out of luck. It's great for the basics, but it's not a destination for a serious sewist.
The "Experience" That Never Quite Made It
A few years ago, Joann talked a big game about "experiential retail." They wanted to build "Creator Studios" where people could take classes and drink coffee while they sewed. It sounds cool, right? In theory, yes. In practice, the Grants Pass location mostly just struggled to keep enough staff on the floor to cut fabric for the line of ten people waiting at the counter.
The gap between the corporate vision and the reality of a 10:00 AM rush in Southern Oregon was huge.
Most of the staff at the Joann Fabrics Grants Pass store were genuinely helpful people who knew their stuff. They were crafters themselves. But you could see the burnout. When the training for new tech never arrived and the inventory dwindled, the "experience" just became frustrating for everyone involved.
📖 Related: USD to Dubai Dollar Explained (Simply): Why It Doesn’t Actually Exist
Is the Medford store still open?
Surprisingly, yes—for now. While 15 Oregon stores were tagged for closure, the Medford location at Poplar Square was spared in the initial 2025 cuts. It’s a bit of a drive, about 30 to 40 minutes depending on I-5 traffic, but it might be the only "big box" fabric option left for the Rogue Valley.
What This Means for Local Small Businesses
It’s a weird double-edged sword. On one hand, people who run small Etsy shops or custom garment businesses in Grants Pass are stranded. They relied on those 40% off coupons to keep their margins sustainable. Without Joann, their costs are going up because they have to pay for shipping on every little spool of thread.
On the other hand, this might be the spark for a local comeback.
🔗 Read more: 2024 california income tax brackets: What Most People Get Wrong
The community has been talking. People want a local, independent shop to fill the void. There’s a lot of chatter about investors potentially looking at the space Joann is leaving behind. Grants Pass has a huge quilting and crafting community—the demand is there. It’s just a matter of whether a small business can survive the high rents in that shopping center.
Actionable Steps for Grants Pass Crafters
If you’re staring at an unfinished project and realized you’re three yards short, here is the game plan for the next few months:
- Hit the Liquidation Sales: If the store hasn't fully shuttered yet, the discounts will be deep. This is the time to buy "forever" supplies—rotary blades, glass-head pins, and neutral threads.
- Support Jordan Fabrics: They might be online-only, but they are local. If you’re a quilter, check their tutorials and kits.
- The Medford Run: Group your errands. If you have to go to Medford for Trader Joe's or Costco, hit the Joann store there while it’s still standing.
- Check Handprints: For stationery, pens, and small gifts, Handprints Stationery & Gifts in downtown GP is a gem. They don't sell fabric by the yard, but they keep the "shop local" spirit alive.
- Digital Patterns: Since physical pattern drawers are disappearing, it’s time to get comfortable with PDF patterns. Sites like Seamwork or IndieSew allow you to print at home, so you aren't reliant on the Big 4 pattern catalogs.
The loss of Joann Fabrics Grants Pass is the end of an era for local makers. It’s a bummer, honestly. But the creativity in this town isn't going away—it’s just going to have to get a lot more resourceful.