Picture this: it’s Sunday afternoon, you’ve been looking around the house all weekend while doing little to no school work. A friend had been spamming your phone for the past hour and when you decide to tap open their messages—you realize there’s a creative assignment due Monday morning to present in a class.

No license, nor permit, you manage to just barely convince your parents to drive you to the closest crafting store for all the supplies you realized you don’t have and now need. Joann Fabrics, a small store located within the Big Y plaza, both parents agree that it’ll have to do.

By the time you purchase all the coloring supplies you could ever need; you think to yourself that you’re glad Ludlow has such a closeby store with a bundle of varieties in supplies for any type of project.

It’s until the next time you need to stop by Joann that you’re stopped by a relative who explains that it’s been in the process of closing down all its stores, including Ludlow’s, due to bankruptcy!

You couldn’t believe it—where are you going to get supplies now? Micheals? You better be prepared to defend yourself explaining why you need to be driven to Micheals’ closest location… West Springfield.

Joann Fabrics is a staple for crafters and students who need materials for school projects. But, after filing a second bankruptcy on January 15, they announced that all of the remaining stores will be closing.

Joann’s first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2024, but became a private company in order to be able to stay open. Now, after filing their second bankruptcy, they will officially be shutting down their stores.

When I, Arianna, heard this shocking information, I was devastated! As someone who grew up in Ludlow, I could always find myself in Joann’s—and I still do. I am also a crocheter and Joann’s is the store I go to for almost all of my supplies. Their yarn brands, specifically Big Twist, are my favorite to use for any project.

The selection Joann’s offers is incomparable to other big name craft stores in the area. From the wide variety of yarn, fabric, and all other things crafters need, it is hard to find somewhere that meets this standard.

Even Michaels, the monstrous store it is, does not provide the quantity of yarn Joann’s does. Michaels, with its endless aisles, should have a big enough selection, but they do not. Most times the shelves of yarn are not fully stocked, and the items in stock do not meet my spoiled expectations. Joann’s has treated me too well.

As for Hobby Lobby, they’re not the best store to support. They have been through several controversies, some regarding discrimination against the LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities, and an unexpected one—smuggling artifacts from Iraq. I just do not feel comfortable buying the amounts of supplies I need from them.

But why not shop online and on Amazon! Well, online shopping has most likely done some damage to Joann’s income, so why ruin it for other businesses? Secondly, again with the yarn, feeling the texture of yarn is one of the main factors in buying it; you simply cannot feel yarn while buying it online. On top of that, colors online can look completely different than they do in person. Online shopping for craft supplies will never replace in-store purchases.

As for when I, William, had heard about Joann closing down, I have to admit I had little to no care for the first couple of days. My hobbies consist of reading and writing—I haven’t touched my old art supplies outside of English projects since early first semester.

The realization eventually dawned on me when I was having trouble trying to find makeshift parts for a Halloween costume. Everything online had little to no proper images to show the measurements, nor the colors of the materials had actually matched the colors reviewers provided.

Do not get me started on the lack of “specific” materials and delivery times—I had literally only typed styrofoam balls and it gives me either completely unrelated items or styrofoam pieces that aren’t even circular! The delivery times alone were a nightmare, why do I have to have a Prime membership for it to take weeks just to show up—to just have it cost me five to ten dollars just to send it?

By then my mom had taken me to Joann’s, I honestly had forgotten it wasn’t just solely for quick crafts. I was able to actually feel the objects— see the colors and sizes. The prices were great! I ended up buying multiple sketchbooks, alongside a set of colored pencils for myself since I had been handing over old supplies to my baby brother to play with.

Arianna had pointed it out already, yet I cannot emphasize enough the literal discontent that would come with having to drive almost twenty minutes to just reach Micheals, which doesn’t provide as much content compared to Joann Fabrics.

So the dilemma—and hopelessness—begins.

Where is a loyal Joann’s shopper going to take their refuge? A store without enough options to satisfy, a company that will leave an unsavory feeling behind, or online where the buyer will be unaware of the quality.

Where will the students of LHS go to buy supplies for a creative assignment due the next morning? Will we all be making a long trip to West Springfield for Michaels, or rely on what we already have?

We know we speak for many of us when we say Joann Fabrics will be missed.