Jo-Ann Stores

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. is a specialty retailer of crafts and fabrics based in Hudson, Ohio. It operates the retail chains Jo-Ann Fabrics and Jo-Ann Etc. The headquarters of the company is located in the former General Motors Terex plant.

History

Beginnings and Northeast Ohio Roots

In 1943, German immigrants Hilda and Berthold Reich and their friends Sigmund and Mathilda Rohrbach opened an imported cheese store in Cleveland. Fabric was added, which sold so well that they decided to open a second store. With no money for additional inventory, they divided full bolts into two to supply both stores. Eventually, they discontinued cheese sales and began operating under the name Cleveland Fabric Shop. With further expansion in 1969, the name was changed to Jo-Ann Fabrics. The store's name was created by combining the names of the daughters from both families: Joan and Jacqueline Ann. The Rohrbach family also founded two other Cleveland-based businesses—Decorative Hardware Supply, Inc. and Factory Windows Direct, LLC, which still operates in Cleveland and is partially owned by the Rohrbachs' great-grandson, David Wittenberg.