The steady decline of retail across the United States has taken another sharp turn downward, with online platforms and tariffs forcing retail giants like Joann Fabrics and Crafts to close.
Joann Fabric and Crafts, the 80-year-old craft store behemoth, will liquidate its 800 stores across the United States by the end of May 2025. The recent surge of tariffs and growing popularization of e-platforms have played an undeniable role in Joann's nationwide closure. After being forced to file for bankruptcy twice, the hope of downsizing has been exhausted, and all locations will be closed, leaving approximately 19,000 people without stable income. However, experts are concerned that Joann's is just the beginning with tariffs and online shopping continuing to reach new heights, affecting small businesses and even established retailers that have been around for decades.
An analysis from Professor Cait Lamberton says' these closures may signal a broader shift, as brick-and-mortar stores struggle to compete with e-commerce and mounting tariffs. “The stores are forced to carry massive inventory because crafty customers want variety — and providing that is expensive.” This sentiment carries over to other chains, including Hobby Lobby and Michaels, which have similar product structures; if this trend continues, they may only have a short time before they are forced to rely solely on online platforms and shut down physical retail locations.
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