sorry, crafters

Joann Fabrics is closing these 4 stores in Houston

Only one Joann Fabrics and Craft Store will remain in Houston.

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It's a sad day for crafters everywhere – Joann Fabrics & Craft Store is planning on shuttering over 500 locations nationwide, including 18 in Texas.

The closure follows after the company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in January 2025. Joann Inc. initially filed for bankruptcy in March 2024.

"This was a very difficult decision to make, given the major impact we know it will have on our Team Members, our customers and all of the communities we serve," the company said in a statement. "A careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the Company determined which stores should remain operating as usual at this time. Right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward for JOANN.”

The company was founded in 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio, and has been a beloved destination for quilters, sewists, knitters, crocheters, and other hobbyists. It currently operates about 800 locations and four distribution centers across 49 states.

While Texas will lose 18 locations, California will see the most Joann Fabric store closures, at 61 stores

Three Houston Joann stores and one location in Katy were included in an initial closing list, according to court documents filed on Wednesday, February 12. It is unknown when these stores will officially close, or when clearance sales will take place. The filings also indicate more stores could be added to the list at a later time.

The Houston-area stores that will close are located at:

15520 FM 529 Road, Houston
9960 Old Katy Road, Houston
290 Meyerland Plaza, Houston
1219 North Fry Road, Katy

The Joann Fabrics location at 12918 Willow Chase Dr. will remain open as the only Houston proper store. The Webster, Humble, Spring, and Sugar Land stores were also excluded from the initial closure list.

Dallas-Fort Worth will lose the most Joann Fabrics stores in the state, at 8 locations.

The DFW stores that will close are:

137 Merchants Row, Suite 165, Arlington
6330 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas
2640 West University Drive, Denton
1439 W. Pipeline Road, Hurst
715 Hebron Parkway, Lewisville
2000 FM 663, Suite 500, Midlothian
1049 E. IH 30, Rockwall
19105 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Mesquite

The remaining Texas Joann locations that are listed in the initial closure are:

3206 South Clack Drive, Abilene
9500 S. IH 35 Frontage Road, Austin
6351 E. Highway 191, Odessa
500 N. Jackson Road, Pharr
3142 Southeast Military Drive, Suite 126, San Antonio
4127 N. Highway 75, Sherman

closings stores retail texas houston katy

sustainability minded

World Cup's 14-mile Green Corridor will leave a lasting impact on Houston

Photo by Cindy Torres

Volunteers are making improvments to the Columbia Tap Trail in Third Ward.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee announced new details about the massive Green Corridor project this week, including the many improvements that will outlast the iconic sporting event taking place in Houston later this summer.

The Green Corridor will be a 14-mile long verdant artery connecting multiple major landmarks in Houston through safe, walkable paths that include shade trees and other improvements. First conceived in 2024 by the Sustainability Subcommittee led by Elizabeth Carlson, it will unite East Downtown, Downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, and Third Ward through hike and bike trail as well as METRO Rail stops. Though the Green Corridor is beginning its life as a showcase for the city to visitors attending the FIFA World Cup June 14 - July 4, it will remain a permanent installation for Houstonians to travel the city without cars.

Management of the project is being handled by Impact Houston 26, a portion of the Host Committee empowered by the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority’s Sports Authority Foundation to promote long-term benefits to the city after the World Cup. Funding partners include private corporations as well as civic organizations such as the City of Sugar Land and Rice University.

“The Green Corridor reflects what Impact Houston 26 is all about, using the FIFA World Cup as a catalyst to deliver lasting environmental benefits for our city,” Carlson said in a statement. “Through Impact Houston’s pillar on sustainability, we’re able to collaborate with local stakeholders to create not just demonstrations of resilience and innovation but education and engagement in the community, a meaningful legacy long after 2026.”

The corridor will provide access to both Houston Stadium (also known as NRG Stadium) and the FIFA Fan Festival, as well as improve existing paths like the Columbia Tap Trail in Third Ward. These improvements include the installation of shade structures, native plantings, expanding the tree canopy, air quality monitoring devices, and water and bike repair stations.

Impact Houston 26 is also working with local institutions like the Houston Zoo, Greentown Labs, and Discovery Green to install various educational materials along the Green Corridor. More information about this will be published later in the spring.

Below is a breakdown of other improvements planned or completed as part of the Green Corridor.

Downtown Houston Main Street Promenade: Four permanent shade structures, native plants, and expanding the tree canopy by 154% to be implemented by May 2026. Further shade structures and plantings planned for Texas Avenue.
East Downtown Management District: Native tree plantings and landscaping in and around the FIFA Fan Festival site to improve first/last mile connectivity around the Green Corridor.
Columbia Tap Trail: Installation of 325 solar lights.
Stadium Park/Astrodome and TMC/Dryden plus Fannin South Transit Center: Various landscaping and safety enhancements.
Midtown Houston: $1.5 million in landscaping and beautification along the Red Line, including over 80 trees, native plantings, water stations, waste receptacles, crosswalk improvements, and public art installations.

The Green Corridor is only one of the World Cup Host Committee's sustainability initiatives. In January, it announced the "New Year, New Hou" program that certifies hospitality businesses such as restaurants and hotels with one of three certifications.

Houston will host seven matches from June 14 - July 4, including teams from Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal.

sustainability parks transportation world cup