mamatobugboo

i enjoy joanns ETC a lot - they have great selection of fabric, interfacing, notions, quilting tools, but a little lacking on the 100% cotton thread! The coupons are great, especially when you are looking to get a big ruler or cutting mat or need yards of fusible fleece! I have shopped at both a regular joanns and the ETC and I have to say that the employees sewing knowledge at the regular Joanns is more extensive then at an ETC, but I have learned whom to go to at ETC when i need some real questions answered!

sewbusy

I agree and I do not shop in my local wal mart anymore since they got rid of fabric. I told the store manager that over a year ago and I have not been back, and I won't shop there ever again. Maybe my loss is meaningless but if we all stopped shopping there, it would make a differance.

Moonpi

I used to love Joanne Etc, sadly none near where I am now. Just walking in that store would stir creative urges.

quiltykitty

The JoAnns Superstores have much more fabric than the smaller ones. I worked in the Viking Store in a superstore. Was it ever hard to walk by all that fabric on the way to my part of the store. I think you would like it.

Cordelia

Yes, we have a super store near my mom's. We go there to use coupons. It is super big and super overpriced.

Their fabric is substandard and so is the service. They don't even keep an employee in the fabric department. Their cutting table just has a sign on it saying bring your fabric up front for cutting.

And, of course, the lines are awful.

It's only worth going in there when you've got half off coupons or big sale events. Otherwise, I go to a quilt store and pay for quality items and get better service.

Bltg54

I live 48 miles NE of San Francisco where JoAnn's closed 2 stores, each on the opposite sides of town, and put in a Superstore almost between them. I love the superstore. It went into a vacant large retail space. The only problem it brought to the location is not enough parking. The Walmart stores here have greatly downsized their choices of fabrics and craft selection. I live closer to the Joann's than the Walmart so I go to the quilt stores and Joann's.

jojo47

Hi, Bebe!

We have a Walmart superstore near where I live and they are currently undergoing a remodel...don't know if there will be a fabric/crafts department when finished, but we can hope. We used to have a Jo-Ann's until Walmart came to town...I still miss it.

desertdebbe

I have been to both the regular and super JoAnn's. The super is quite a bit bigger and sells many items not sewing related. Each category of items are housed in different sections so they aren't all mixed together. I had no trouble finding the fabric section, which was laid out with lots of space. The regular store is so cramped for space this was a refreshing change.

My local Walmart still sells fabric. I have noticed over the last 9 months or so that the quality of a lot of the merchandise in the store (not just fabric) has gone way down. I like low prices but not low quality.
Since the fabric/craft dept. takes at least 2 employees and usually 3 to keep it running that is more than other depts. require. They are all about profit and 1 cent means a lot to them when purchasing from companies. Having more employees there and making less profit than other depts. has caused them to get rid of the fabrics. I told them I never buy the $1/yd fabric as it is of "unknown origin" I have no problem spending $5/yd and if they get better quality and raise the price some sewers will
still come. They've allowed some stores to still sell it but ultimetly it will be gone from all of them. Enjoy it while you can (if you still can)

Nina

Bebe - which WalMart? The one on Fy78j near Randolph AFB doesn't think they are going to close the fabrics - but, who knows for sure.

Both the Bitters and Perrin Beitel Joanns are closing. I went to a Joanns superstore in Ft. Worth and loved it.

Wirlybird.pearl

We sure know how you feel here in Medicine Hat, AB Canada. We are also losing our Walmart to a superstore and that leaves Fabricland. They have poor quality quilting cottons, and poor customer service. I hope walmart will keep their notions at least.