Latest news with #Joann
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Huge bankrupt retail chain closing down all stores after 80 years
Retailers must grapple with a lot of harsh realities these days. For one, it's just not 2019 anymore. Related: Popular bankrupt retail chain prepares to close all 96 stores Try as some retailers might, we can't bring the old times back. Which means we've been in the midst of a hard adjustment period over the past several years. We may not have realized it back then, but in 2020 when Covid struck, retail was about to seismically shift. While many stores may have gotten away with operating like it was 1985, the pandemic suddenly exposed those who were taking creative measures to grow or adapt and those who were just puttering along. Lots of smaller, niche, or specialized shops that relied on passive foot traffic to keep operations afloat were suddenly underwater. Foot traffic fell to near zero overnight, and it was suddenly unprofitable to operate in even the most populous, trendy areas. Image source: Getty Images When Covid finally waned and many of us began to resume our daily habits, some brick-and-mortar stores revitalized. But those stores were typically the ones that already had strong business models or competitive moats prior to the pandemic. More closings: Popular Mexican chain closing all restaurants, no bankruptcyIconic mall chain shuttering more stores foreverMajor gym closing multiple locations after franchisee bankruptcyAfter Chapter 11 bankruptcy, beloved retailer closes all stores Discount retailers like TJ Maxx, Ross, and HomeGoods were uniquely positioned to capitalize on a renewed consumer enthusiasm not just for treasure hunting, but also for deal seeking. But niche retailers that offered specialty products or only catered to a sliver of the population struggled to find their way again. Retailers like Joann or Party City, which had large footprints across the U.S. but only offered a particular set of inventory for niche hobbyists, found it difficult to regain their footing. Joann, a once highly popular craft store for quilters, crafters, and other textile hobbyists, was one of the foremost victims of the fall of niche retailers. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in January 2025 and made the difficult decision to shutter all stores. Related: See's Candies local rival unexpectedly closing after 50 years Joann has already closed over 200 stores, and after a country-wide liquidation sale, it is preparing to close over 440 more stores by the end of May. When it filed for bankruptcy in January, Joann originally planned to shutter about 500 stores and maintain some operations. But when its assets were acquired by financial services company GA Group at auction, it made the difficult decision to close all stores and cease online operations. Stores that are still operational are holding up to 90% off sales. All stores will close by May 31. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Window World responds in wrongful death lawsuit
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Window World has filed a response in a wrongful death lawsuit following a home explosion in Ellsworth Township that killed four people. The lawsuit filed by administrators for the estates of the deceased alleged that workers putting siding on the home damaged propane gas lines but failed to recognize they had damaged those lines, leading to the explosion. The lawsuit filed earlier this year against Window World alleged that Joann and Jeffrey Kocanyar, the owner of the home at 8521 Huxley Rd, hired Window World to replace the siding on their home and that workers affiliated with the company had been working at the house on Oct. 4, 2024, the day before the explosion. Several neighbors described hearing 'very loud,' 'banging,' and 'hammering' coming from the home before it was discovered that a water pipe in the basement had broken around 4 p.m., causing a leak in the basement, the lawsuit contends. Window World's response was filed Tuesday in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas, denying those allegations and stating that the cause of the damages remains undetermined, and other individuals and/or companies could have contributed to the damages and injuries alleged. The State Fire Marshal concluded its investigation into the explosion earlier this year. That investigation did not pinpoint an exact cause of the explosion but indicated that the probable cause was a propane leak. The Fire Marshal's report did note that crews with Window World had been installing vinyl siding on the home and had begun preparation work the day before the explosion. They received a report that one of the workers had broken a water pipe in the basement and that the Kocanyars were getting materials to repair the pipe. The explosion occurred around 7:20 a.m. the next day, and investigators had trouble pinpointing the source of the explosion due to the extensive damage to the home and lack of burn patterns. Investigators did find a propane tank behind the garage with lines leading to the basement and to a gas fireplace on the south side of the home. Window World's response acknowledges that Window World contracted with various individuals for certain work, including subcontracting services for which it had no active participation. Window World is denying liability as it 'had no active participation in the work performed' and 'did not directly control the work to be performed.' The response also states, 'the injuries and damages alleged by Plaintiffs were caused by intervening and/or superseding actions, for which this answering Defendant has no legal liability.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
See's Candies local rival unexpectedly closing after 50 years
We aren't exactly living in a gilded age for retail right now. It seems like everywhere you look, stores are holding liquidation sales as they prepare to close for good. Related: Iconic Warren Buffett candy store suddenly closing after 30 years It doesn't matter if you live near a small town or nearby a bustling metropolitan center. It probably feels like every time you pass by a shopping plaza, a store is closing. And to some degree, a lot of these closures make sense. When Joann Fabrics announced it would close all stores, for example, that decision more or less checked out. Not many people are crafting, quilting, or sewing these days. And those who are typically get their supplies online or from cheaper retailers that sell a lot of other, unrelated things. Niche retailers like Joann or Party City, therefore, are less in vogue in today's retail landscape. Image source: Getty Images It's not hard to understand why niche craft and party stores that have large footprints across the U.S. might close down. It's become increasingly more expensive to operate a brick and mortar store. The cost of electricity, fuel, and inventory are all on the rise. And fewer customers are coming in, since they get their supplies from cheaper options that often offer far more selection and rapid delivery. More closings: Popular Mexican chain closing all restaurants, no bankruptcyIconic mall chain shuttering more stores foreverMajor gym closing multiple locations after franchisee bankruptcyAfter Chapter 11 bankruptcy, beloved retailer closes all stores The same can be said for other specialty stores, like candy and chocolate shops. Sweet shops are popular in tourist-dense areas, where folks might stop in for a sweet treat during their vacation when diets are nearly always temporarily postponed. But it's harder to compete with multinational brands like Hershey and Mars, which are often able to undercut smaller competitors' prices and produce similarly reliable and quality products. They also happen to be available at nearly every grocery, convenience, and large format store, so they have far more points of sale. Such is the case for a popular local candy store, The Chocolate Tree, located in Beaufort, South Carolina. The Chocolate Tree is a famed local spot which was reportedly a favorite amongst A-list actors including Tom Hanks and Sallie Fields when they were filming "Forrest Gump," in the 1990s. Related: Famous retail chain closing more stores amidst chaotic new change Legend has it that The Chocolate Tree's box of chocolates was behind a part of inspiration for the film, which was mostly shot around Beaufort. Now, however, after 50 years in business, The Chocolate Tree is closing down. The store owners announced it would shutting down on Tuesday, May 27. They anticipate The Chocolate Tree will close on Friday, May 29. The Chocolate Tree sells over 60 different kinds of chocolates, including chili, raspberry, mint, and amaretto truffles, fudge, caramel turtles, and sugar free options. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Last call: See the Joann fabric stores closing in Washington by May 31
The ball of yarn is running out for an iconic fabric and craft retailer. Joann will permanently close all its stores by May 31, including its locations in Washington. Joann shuttered 255 locations in April, months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time within a year. Since filing for bankruptcy, the company has held going-out-of-business sales at the locations. At those sales, prices are marked down 70% to 90%, according to (Note: sales on the online site have ended.) Stores are also selling the furniture, shelves, and equipment, according to the site. The more than 440 stores that remain will be closed by May 31, according to Jo Anne McCusker, a spokesperson for GA Group, the retail liquidator that won all of Joann's chain's assets through auction in February. USA TODAY published this table showing multiple Joann stores across Washington have been identified for closure by the end of May. See the hours of operation for the Washington locations on Joann's website. The Hudson, Ohio-based retailer, which has been in business since 1943, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time within a year and auctioned its remaining assets. On Feb. 22, retail liquidator GA Group and Joann's term lenders won the bidding for the company. An announcement that all Joann stores would close came days later, after the company initially announced the closures of "approximately 500" of its more than 800 locations across the U.S. GA Group has previously worked with Joann in buying House of Fabrics, a former competitor, in the late 1990s and helping increase the retailer's store footprints from 2006 to 2016, Scott Carpenter, CEO of GA Group's Retail Solutions, previously told the USA TODAY Network. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Joann fabric stores closing in Washington by May 31. See the list
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Watch out for these scams targeting Joann closing sales, experts warn
If you're looking to cash in on going-out-of-business sales at closing Joann stores, beware of scammers. Both the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau have issued warnings about scammers targeting internet users with fake deals of 80 to 90% off via phony liquidation websites. The scam tactics come as the last remaining Joann stores close their doors this month. The crafts retailer, which has been in business for over 80 years, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January, the second time it made such a filing within a year. Here's what you need to know about shopping safely as Joann closes its doors. See list: Joann closing all remaining 440+ stores by May 31 As of March 5, purchases on are disabled and shoppers looking to take part in going-out-of-business sales should visit a location in-person, Joann said in a note at the top of its official website. 'Beware of fake Joann websites," the company wrote. 'There are no other authorized Joann shopping websites. Please see your local store for all your crafting needs. Inventory varies by location.' According to the company's website, all stores will be closed by the end of May and a sale for 70-90% off items in-store was still ongoing. Scam alert: Bogus customer service is just the latest online scam you need to be aware of The FTC and BBB have each issued warnings that unsuspecting customers could see an ad on social media for a Joann 'going-out-of-business' sale. Once the customers click on the ads, they are directed to a website that looks just like the legitimate Joann website. The fake website contains real company logos, and lists products for 80-90% off. 'The products being sold are products that you are familiar with purchasing at Joann, so the sale seems legitimate,' the BBB said. 'As you start to add items to your cart, you may also be offered an additional promotional discount that brings prices down even more.' But the website's URL is not the BBB said. Instead, the URL is for a website scammers made to steal personal information. According to one customer who submitted a report on April 28, they saw an ad on Facebook for a 90% off liquidation sale. 'The website looked identical to (Joann) Fabric,' the customer wrote in a report to the BBB's Scam Tracker. 'I did not send them money. Now they are spamming my email with urgent emails about not being able to hold my order.' The customer said they're glad they checked for scams before adding their payment information to the website and placing the order. 'I hope my experience spares someone else,' the customer wrote, adding that the email address associated with the scam is service@ Another customer said on March 17 that the 'scammer copied the Joann Fabrics website in extreme detail.' The customer thought the site they ordered from was legitimate, but after waiting three weeks and still not receiving their items or a tracking number, they knew something was amiss. 'After waiting and trying to send them email inquiries with no response, I finally decided to call them with the number listed on THEIR website,' the customer wrote. 'I got a recorded line trying to sell me insurance. That's when I realized it was a scam.' The BBB said customers who are shopping online can take the following steps to make sure they don't fall victim to scams such as the one targeting Joann customers: Confirm the website's URL. URLs for fake websites are often off by a letter or two, or they contain extra words. Avoid clicking links and go directly to the official website. Keep in mind that if something seems too good to be true, it likely is. Use your credit card for online purchases because credit cards offer additional fraud protection that debit cards don't. Do not submit personal information such as your social security number. Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joann closing sales: Watch out for these scams as stores shutter
