Trying to fill the void left by the closure of the Joann stores, the craft chain Michaels has announced a new “shop-in-shop” concept focused on sewing and knitting.
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Michaels’ Sept. 24 announcement said the Texas-based chain will also expand its party supply section.
The “in-store experiences” called the Knit & Sew Shop and the Party Shop are planned for all the chain’s 1,300 stores.
The Knit & Sew Shop will be co-branded with the Joann name, which Michaels bought in June, and will feature some of the defunct chain’s private-label brands, including Big Twist yarn. Fabrics will be available in more than 1,000 of the stores, with cutting tables for the sale of fabric by the yard planned for 650 by mid-October, the announcement said.
“Michaels has also increased the existing space dedicated to fabric in stores by nearly 25%, expanded assortment in most locations, and has over 95,000 options available online,” it said.
The creation of the Party Shop follows the collapse of another chain — Party City, a go-to purveyor of balloons and themed decorations.
The closure of the 14 Bay Area Joann stores left the region with few full-service fabric stores. The Hancock chain closed its last store in 2016. Among the independent fabric stores are:
Britex, San Francisco Union Square. Closed weekends, except the first Saturday of the month.
Piedmont Fabric, Oakland
Stonemountain & Daughter, Berkeley
Discount Fabrics, San Francisco Potrero Hill and Berkeley
Harts, Santa Cruz
Another craft chain, Hobby Lobby, has a limited selection of fabrics.
Michaels has about 30 stores in the Bay Area.