When was Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores founded?

The business that would become Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores began in 1943 when two German immigrant families founded the Cleveland Fabric Shop. By 1963, the business had expanded to 18 Ohio locations, and the stores were renamed Jo-Ann after the families' daughters, Joan Zimmerman and Jacqueline Ann Rosskamm.

Jo-Ann extended its reach in the 1990s by acquiring regional chains of fabric stores, including Clothworld, based in the South, and House of Fabrics, based in Los Angeles. As of December 2014, Jo-Ann has 850 locations in 49 states, and its corporate headquarters remain in the Cleveland metro area. Jo-Ann's website features in-store and online coupons, along with nearly 2,000 crafting and sewing project tutorials.