Major Retail Chain Closes its Last New Jersey Stores – See Inside

More Store Closures Hit New Jersey in 2025

Yet another one of those stores that's seemingly always been in New Jersey isn't there any longer.

And if it seems like you need a Google Doc or spreadsheet to keep track of all the businesses and restaurants that have closed so far this year, you're not alone.

A Wave of Shutdowns Across the State

We started 2025 with Party City closing all of its stores, including the 26 that were in New Jersey, and then Macy's closed a Backstage store in North Jersey...

Kohl's then closed a store in East Windsor, followed by several Big Lots locations...

And Rite Aid is about to fade into history.

All while many big malls across the state seem to be struggling, too.

And we haven't even scratched the surface of the dozens of restaurants that have closed in New Jersey so far this year.

Now Joann Fabrics Joins the List

Now, we can officially add one more name to that list — Joann.

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The one-sentence history of Joann Fabrics goes like this: the chain was founded in 1943, it grew to over 850 locations across the country, serious financial issues developed in the late 2010s, and then they announced all stores would be closing in 2025.

On May 30th, all remaining Joann stores, including those in New Jersey, closed their doors for good.

Inside a Closed Joann Store — See the Photos

I recently had an opportunity to look inside one of the last remaining stores and, needless to say, it was just sad.

It wasn't that long ago that this was a bustling store with many employees and customers who were grabbing what they needed to bring their fantastic ideas to life. And now it's all gone.

Here today, gone tomorrow. Or, in the case of retail, there yesterday, gone today.

• READ MORE: More Wawa Stores Closing in Philadelphia

What’s Next for Joann’s Legacy?

And there is one small consolation prize: the Michaels chain of crafting supplies stores has bought Joann's intellectual property, so you'll be seeing Joann-branded products in those stores.

As for Joann stores themselves, they're now a part of New Jersey's retail history. Just another answer to the old question, "Do you remember what used to be there?"