The rumors have been flying. Honestly, if you’re a quilter or a casual crafter in the Med City, you’ve probably heard a dozen different versions of what's going on with the big green sign on Marketplace Drive. It’s been a weird few years for the craft world. One minute we’re all sourdough starters and knitting marathons; the next, retail giants are wobbling.
Let’s get the big question out of the way. Is Joann Fabrics in Rochester Minnesota still there?
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Basically, the situation is messy. If you drove past the 3839 Marketplace Dr NW location recently, you might have seen a store in transition—or one with a "Store Closing" sign plastered across the front. Throughout 2025, Joann went through a massive, nationwide liquidation after a second bankruptcy filing. While the Rochester store was initially on the "safe" list during the first round of restructuring, the final gavel came down in early 2025, ordering a wind-down of all physical locations.
Why the Rochester Location Felt Different
It’s kinda sad. This wasn’t just some dusty old shop. The Rochester location was a newer, "big box" format. It moved from its older spot to the Northwest corridor near Target and Costco, looking like it was ready for the long haul.
You’ve probably been there on a Saturday morning. The line at the cutting counter usually stretched back into the fleece aisle. You’d stand there with a bolt of "anti-pill" fabric, chatting with someone about their grandkid's baby blanket. It was a community hub for local makers.
The store was massive. It carried:
- An endless sea of quilting cottons.
- Those specific Singer sewing machine parts you can never find online.
- Home decor fabrics that were actually heavy enough for curtains.
- Seasonal decor that usually hit the shelves three months too early.
The Bankruptcy Reality Check
People often ask why a busy store like the one in Rochester would close. It doesn't make sense, right? You see people buying yarn and thread every day. But according to court filings and retail experts like those at Retail Dive, the issue wasn't the local foot traffic. It was the debt.
Joann took on a lot of baggage over the decades. Then you had the supply chain issues. Shipping costs for overseas fabrics skyrocketed. On top of that, competition from online giants made it hard to keep the lights on in huge, expensive spaces like the one in NW Rochester.
By the time 2026 rolled around, the landscape changed. The store that once anchored that shopping center became part of a larger story of retail "right-sizing."
Where Do We Go Now for Fabric in Rochester?
If you're staring at a half-finished quilt and realized you’re three yards short of the border print, don't panic. Rochester still has some incredible local options. In fact, many would argue the "local" shops are better anyway.
Pine Needles Quilt & Sew is the gold standard for many. They are located on Salem Rd SW and, frankly, the quality of their cotton is miles ahead of what you’d find at a big-box retailer. They offer classes, too. Real, in-person classes where a human being actually shows you how to thread a bobbin without losing your mind.
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Then there’s Sew a Little Something. If you’re looking for private lessons or a more boutique feel, that’s your spot.
And look, if you just need cheap thread or a pack of needles, Michaels is still over by the mall. They actually bought up a lot of the Joann private-label brands (like Big Twist yarn) after the liquidation. You can find some of those old Joann favorites there now.
The Impact on the Local Maker Scene
It’s more than just a place to buy buttons. Joann Fabrics in Rochester Minnesota was where people went for "Project Linus" supplies. It’s where the high school theater kids went to find sequins for the spring musical.
The loss of a large-scale fabric store creates a gap for people on a budget. Local quilt shops are amazing, but they can be pricey. When you just need five yards of cheap muslin for a pattern mockup, the big-box store was the go-to.
Now, most people are turning to places like Fabric Wholesale Direct or Spoonflower online. It’s convenient, sure. But you can't feel the "drape" of the fabric through a laptop screen. That’s the real loss here.
Actionable Steps for Rochester Crafters
If you are still navigating the post-Joann world in SE Minnesota, here is how to keep your projects moving:
1. Support the "LQS" (Local Quilt Shops): Visit Pine Needles or check out some of the smaller shops in nearby towns like Byron or Stewartville. They often have better advice and higher-quality tools.
2. Check the "Destash" Groups: There are several Rochester-specific crafting groups on Facebook. People are constantly selling off "bins" of fabric they realized they’ll never use. It’s a goldmine.
3. Use Michaels for Basics: For things like poly-fill, basic zippers, and acrylic yarn, Michaels has expanded their inventory to catch the former Joann customers.
4. Learn to Shop Online Wisely: Order swatches first. It costs a couple of dollars, but it saves you from buying 10 yards of something that feels like sandpaper.
The era of the massive fabric warehouse in Rochester might be over for now, but the community of makers isn't going anywhere. We just have to be a bit more intentional about where we source our supplies.
Visit Pine Needles Quilt & Sew on Salem Road this week to see their new spring arrivals and get back into a local rhythm.