It is not uncommon for a specialty store to "rent space" in a big box store or even a department store. My DH was in retail for lots of years and many of the book, fabric and furniture departments were, sort of, sublet to specialty companies. JoAnn's will pay for the space and provide the product but Walmart will set the guidelines. That may be why Walmart, and others, let fabrics go, they didn't make the same amount of profit in these sublet depts. However, what they failed to realize is that fabric and crafts have a tremendous customer draw.
I keep remembering how many LQS closed when fabrics went into Walmart and how desperate we quilters became when several years later, Walmart closed that department. In my area it left us in a bind and they did not care one bit. It is all about the bottom line with them. We did everything but chain ourselves to the cutting table at my local Walmart in an attempt to get them to keep fabrics and no one even listened. I do hope we don't give them the chance to do that again. I know I will shop some in the fabric dept. we have been promised in our Walmart, but I also will keep shopping at my LQS.

I hope not, I am finding that the quality at Wal Mart far surpasses the quality at JoAnns in Denver anyway. I quit shopping at JoAnn's awhile back over quality issues! That and the wonderful coupons you can't use because everything is on sale anyway for much more than the coupon would allow! Now that is someones advertising genious showing! :D

The Jo-Ann's coupons are basically a bait and switch scheme. I intended to use a coupon recently to buy the Quickly Quilting magazine ($9.99) but couldn't because it was "on sale" for $8.99. I bought it anyway but you're right about Jo Ann's coupons; not as wonderful as they first appear.

It is "all about the bottom line" with pretty much everybody. That's what business is all about. Even a store that really caters to customer service, hiring and training caring personnel, it's not about making people happy alone. It's about making money. If you are all about being nice to people or making them happy, without doing the math as well, you are running a nonprofit. All the LQS in my area, and that includes a 50 mile radius in three states, do really make an effort to make you happy. But if they stop making a profit, they are gone. Making money is not always a bad thing. However, big boxes putting little stores out of business is unfortunately is what makes big money. It's the customers who suffer in the long run.

JoAnn's
 

I think the pharmacy is contracted, too.

I would be happy just to get fabric back in my Walmart.

We are getting a new Joanns here in Corbin,Ky. Separate from Wally world. Thank goodness!

I wouldn't be suprised, the walmart stores have either got rid of the fabric or downsized and raised prices. I haven't been able to find any decent fabric there for a long time that wasn't about the same price as Joanns.

I have seen the same fat quarters at Joann's and at Walmart. What's with that....

since Wally World is the only show in town, that might be nice...however, our fabric selection is pretty darn good...in fact it has gotten better and better AT LAST