Joann no longer exists as a retailer. It closed its last physical stores permanently after a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Michaels bought Joann’s intellectual property and brand name only, not the stores or the business itself.
Joann was a fabric and craft supply chain with roots going back to the 1940s, when it operated as a group of fabric shops before consolidating under one name decades later. For a long stretch it was one of the largest specialty fabric and craft retailers in the country, a regular stop for teachers stocking up on classroom art and craft supplies.
Where The Discount Actually Went
Joann.com’s old teacher discount page now redirects straight to Michaels: joann.com/teacher-discount forwards to michaels.com/teacher-discount, tagged as coming from the Joann web presence. Some lists still show a “Joann Teacher Discount, 15%” as if the store were open. It isn’t.
Michaels itself runs a real teacher discount today, and since it now owns Joann’s old customer base and web traffic, it’s the practical successor for anyone who used to shop Joann for classroom crafts and fabric.
Q&A
Q: Is Joann still open anywhere?
A: No. It closed its last physical stores permanently after a second bankruptcy filing.
Q: Can I still use a Joann teacher discount?
A: No, but Michaels acquired Joann’s brand and intellectual property and runs its own teacher discount, which the old Joann URL now redirects to.
Q: Why do some sites still list a Joann discount?
A: They’re working from stale information. The redirect to Michaels confirms Joann’s own teacher discount page no longer functions as one.
Q: What happened to Joann’s physical store locations?
A: They were closed and liquidated as part of the bankruptcy; Michaels bought only the brand name and intellectual property, not the real estate or store operations.
Q: Does the redirect mean my old Joann bookmarks are useless?
A: Bookmarked Joann teacher-discount pages will land on Michaels’ equivalent page instead, so they still get you somewhere useful, just not where they originally pointed.
Q: Will my old Joann rewards or gift cards still work?
A: Not something this post can confirm; check directly with Michaels customer service, since gift card and loyalty transfer terms after an acquisition like this vary case by case.
Q: Are there other fabric-specific retailers with a teacher discount?
A: Not yet confirmed on this site; if you rely heavily on fabric for classroom projects, it’s worth checking smaller regional fabric shops directly.
More Information:
Confirmed via joann.com/teacher-discount’s own redirect to michaels.com/teacher-discount, and Michaels’ public statements about acquiring Joann’s brand and IP out of bankruptcy.
Michaels itself runs its own ID.me-verified teacher discount program, separate from anything Joann used to offer, so it’s worth checking Michaels’ current terms directly rather than assuming they match what Joann once had.
For anyone who used Joann specifically for fabric and sewing supplies rather than general crafts, it’s worth knowing Michaels’ own core inventory leans more toward crafting, framing, and party supplies; fabric selection may be narrower than what Joann carried, so compare before assuming a full like-for-like replacement.
