Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft

Staff was really unfriendly at the cutting counter and the place was messy with not alot of variety
The trimming was way to expensive for some items too. You’re better off going to fabrics for less across the street for a cheaper price and a while variety of different trimmings and fabrics

In reading other reviews, I couldn’t agree more whole-​heartedly: this location is in dire need of a cleanup and remodel.
As someone who crafts like crazy and is always taking on a new project or new type of craft, I have frequented Jo-Ann’s for a multitude of reasons and for the most part have found what I’ve been searching for… and of course, as any crafty crafter knows… and more. In example, in August when I wanted to learn how to decorate a cake for my niece, I unexpectedly found they have a glorious selection of Wilton’s baking products.
In recent months, I have taken on the craft of self-​taught quilting. This is where I have garnered my «Meh. I’ve experienced better» attitude. At first, I succumbed to the idea that Jo-Ann’s is the only fabric store worth my fabric purchases until I started visiting other fabric stores. Although Jo-Ann’s has a nice selection of fabric, things are difficult for the beginner to really cohesively understand. As if that wasn’t bad enough, there are only one or two employees with whom I’ve become familiar that seem willing to point you in the right direction. And I do mean point. Only on one occasion did I find an employee that actually walked me to the right place and give a dedicated search for the item I was looking for; it turned out they did not have a quilting T-​square.
When it comes down to having your fabric cut, I have had some serious questions (insert that whole self-​teaching bit) and have been looked at as if I’ve come from another planet. One of two things is going on: they have employed those who don’t know a blasted thing about measurements and/​or fabric, OR they have employed those who just don’t give a rip.
I suppose Jo-Ann’s is getting the customers who really don’t want to drive to another fabric store and are willing to put up with the old biddies who work there. If I really needed a question answered or hadn’t a clue what I was doing, I’d be otherwise screwed. As I’ve become more experienced, I’ve ascertained that Jo-Ann’s is a) cold, b) without friendliness (and I’ve spent plenty of money there to AT THE VERY LEAST receive a smile), c) needs a remodel, and d) needs a better selection of fabric.
Admittedly, for it’s convenient location, I will likely shop there when I’m in dire need of a button or thread AND don’t need a bit of help.
If you do want to shop at Jo-Ann’s, do take advantage of their online coupons that are available to be sent to your smartphone. There’s also a Jo-Ann’s app.

This store is close to my home and always has the supplies I need for whatever project I am working on. I started sewing about three years ago and often ask for help when I get stuck. The staff there are always happy to help me and always love to see my pictures of my completed projects.
The store is rough on the outside, but clean and organized in the inside. I appreciate this store and the employees a lot.

This store could really use a remodel… It is so old and dirty. And it smells… different (not in the good way like a craft store normally smells). It’s pretty easy to get to though; the parking lot is huge and always empty. Make sure you drive slow though, they obviously don’t want to fix their parking; it is very bumpy, lots of potholes in the lot.
The staff is okay, when you can find them. They like to hide, and do it well. Sometimes you might find a friendly one, but it is rare. They are always really slow to check out as well.
They pack a lot of stuff into this place. Tons of fabrics, yarns, beads, crafting supply, fake flowers. You can find all your basic crafting needs.
You can get really good deals with coupons, especially since they accept competitors ones. So always Google coupons for Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc before coming in so you get discounts! They never seem to have Joann ads available in this store, so go online for your coupons and download the app for an additional one.

I love this store but left VERY upset because in their fabric section they had all Branches of the military logos except the Coast Guard and apparently they dont carry it at all! I think that is Fucked up and unamerican… why would u carry all branches but not the Coast Guard?! They are a branch to!

There have been a couple of times when there has been a crafting/​making emergency strikes (seriously, that happens — like last night) and I find myself at this location.
When you first arrive, it’s a bit recessed behind the Grocery Outlet, and suuuper easy to miss. The parking lot is a little worn and bumpy, so take your time or say goodbye to your shocks. The store itself is also worn and bumpy. It’s incredibly run down and drab, but everyone working here is generally very nice and helpful.
I found out quickly that it’s a mini Jo-Ann’s. A baby version with a small selection of a lot of basics. So if you’re looking for something obscure (like Neoprene or leather cording) you probably won’t find it here.
As with all Jo-Ann’s it’s Coupon-​palooza up in here! From flyers, to mailers, to text messages, their website (that you can access on your phone) or the Jo-Ann’s App! Paying full-​priced for anything is seriously a thing of the past.
I view this Jo-Ann’s as a crafting version of a neighborhood bodega. The people working here are nice, it’s convenient, you won’t find everything you need, but it has a nice comforting small-​town feel.

So this store is a bit run down, but the staff is nice, friendly and helpful. I ran in to buy some some thread for my sewing kit, and they had what I wanted. They also have lots of craft items that I’d love to go back & shop for with my kids. Have I been to «nicer» looking Jo-Ann’s yes, but they all have basically the same stuff, so I’m good.

This is unfortunately the closest fabrics store to me. I’ve been here several times and everytime that I am here, I’ve had a bad experience with an employee named BONNIE. The last time I was there, I greeted her and asked her what the price of a fabric I wanted to purchase. She didn’t even look at me and kept looking down at her pda/​phone for about 2 minutes. Then she told me the price and I asked her to cut about yard. During this time, she didn’t respond to me but made jokes and laugh with the customer behind me. When she was done making jokes, I reminded her that I wanted a yard of fabric and she snapped back at me and said «I heard you the first time.» After she was done with cutting my fabric, she didn’t even say «thank you» and acted like she wanted me to leave so badly.
As I mentioned before, I had several bad encounters with Bonnie and I can count more than 2 times where I’ve caught her rolling her eyes at me. This type of customer service is unacceptable and needs to be handled.

I have to say that Jo-Ann’s is just a terrible store in general. But alas, they do have some things that we need. My spouse runs a preschool so it’s a good place to get sale stuff for craft projects. And I am a frequent consumer of Patons Classic Wool (although Michael’s carries WAY better colors).
My five-​star review of this specific store is largely due to the wonderful cashiers. This location has been «my» store for two years now and I never dread going in. No lines, the staff is super nice and they don’t bat an eye when I hand them a fist full of coupons and ask them to figure out what works for what.
Easy parking, good location, friendly staff.
I’m telling you, that Ballard Jo-Ann’s is just AWFUL compared to this place — zero parking, long lines and the cashiers are total battle axes.
Thank you Renton Jo-Ann’s staff! You have made shopping in your corporate behemoth bearable.

Sadly, this is the closest craft store to me. I don’t really mind the fact that the location is seedy. (and bound to get worse now that the St. Vincent’s is vacant.) My main gripe here is that they almost have no yarn here anymore. In the last year they reconfigured the store and took out a most of the yarn. Sure I can get sock and baby yarn, but that’s about it.
And then there is the service. WORST service ever. If you are going in for a quick purchase be ready to be disappointed. I went in the other day for elastic. Six people in line and one cashier. Didn’t call anybody. Took about fifteen minutes because the people in front of me had huge baskets full of stuff. I’ve had fabric cut here before and even with no one around it takes forever to get help and fabric cut.
I will say one thing Joanne’s is doing right, is that you can have them text you coupons. That’s right, they will text them to you. That is brilliant.

This use to be a very good store until it got run down, dirty and beaten up. I have decided to stop shopping at this particular location for a number of reasons:
Most of the business surrounding this store have bars on the windows.
The parking lot looks beaten up and run down.
Sketchy neighborhood with a fair number of mentally unstable individuals here and there.
There’s very little selection for certain hobbies and crafts.
The shelves look cluttered or empty.
The quality of fabric isn’t what it use to be.
It takes a while to find an employee for help.
Good quality brands are slowly being replaced by cheaper brands.
My experiences at the cutting counter for fabric have not been that great. Most of the employees are cranky and/​or rude.
If this store becomes as decent as the Tukwila location; I might start shopping here again. I’m decided against coming here for last minute notions and items for projects.

I LOVE craft stores, but this store is REALLY lacking. It is tiny with almost no selection and half the time the shelves are close to bare. Every time I have ever come in here it is so understaffed with no one to help you let alone more than one cashier to check out the line. You better be prepared to wait or not go if you are in a hurry.

The store didn’t look as fresh as Crossroads, and it is smaller. But it had something Crossroads was out of so we went to two Jo-Ann’s. The employees outnumbered the customers this time of night. All were polite or friendly. One employee in particular was helpful. They had almost enough fabric, Bonnie explained how we could adjust the pattern to make our garnet with less fabric. Bonnie also offered to special order in the event we didn’t want to shorten it. Good customer service from our perspective.

First of all, kudos to the employees who were super nice to us! However, one of their managers, (Bonnie – 60ish yrs old, medium build – light colored hair and short cut) was RUDE. One super nice lady was cutting a ton of fabric for us. We were buying fleece to make blankets for homeless children. When it was time for the lady helping us to take her much needed break, the manager named BONNIE came to take over. The lady helping us told this manager named BONNIE, what we were purchasing (and it was quite a bit – they needed to cut 19 blankets for us and the line behind us was long). Upon hearing about our big order, my daughter and I saw BONNIE roll her eyes and give this super mean, disgusted look then a heavy sigh. She started to help us then without a greeting or a thank you for shopping and spending all this money in their store. Luckily, after 3 minutes BONNIE was called away to help at the register for someone (but was suppose to head back and help us). I had to beg the girl taking over for BONNIE, to please not send her back. The girl helped us out and even told the other manager (can’t remember that manager’s name, but she was super nice), not to have BONNIE help us again.
Wow, you’d think that manager (BONNIE) would’ve been appreciative we were spending money in their store. If the line behind us was long, it only meant they needed more people to help cut fabric. Not our problem. We ARE the customers.
As far as the location of this store, it is on the seedier side of the Renton Highlands, but that can’t be helped.
I plan to follow up with a phone call to their corporate manager. I’ve never been blatantly treated that way and by someone in management!

I’ve had to visit this location on several occasions to get some fabric for work. Sketchy location. I love Joann’s over all but I hate this location. Never well stocked with what I need. Staff seems put off unless you are a regular and 50. I am not. I am young, get what I need and get out. Today the cashier didn’t even greet me, tell me my total or anything. Just rang me up, had me sign and get out. Nice, thanks for that.
If it weren’t for work, id never visit this location again.

As someone else mentioned, the outside of the store is pretty dodgy, but it’s an area of town that is slowly being improved. The inside is on par with other JoAnns stores. I go a few times a year (and rarely know what I’m doing) and they have always been friendly and helpful, even when I have small children «helping» me shop.

A few complaints about this particular location. First, their habit of stocking a ton of the same type of non-​essential items, and being out of stock (or not carrying) the basics. On a recent visit, there was a transient/​mentall ill man, smelling a little ripe, following customers and talking exitedly at them about the government. I witnessed a customer asking an employee if they could ask the man to stop following and bothering customers, and the employee just looked irritated and said there was nothing she could do about it.
On my most recent shopping trip there, the young lady cutting the fabric took a VERY long time, because she was busier chatting about her religious values, and the evils of the movie version of «The Golden Compass» than she was doing her job. And at the checkout counter, the woman working actually seemed angry that she had to ring someone up, and even angrier that I asked if I could pay half of my mom’s bill. It really wasn’t a difficult request, but not only was she angry, she couldn’t figure out how to do this.
The only positive thing I can think to say about this location is that they have a good selection of fabric, especially calicos.

Well, they had buttons. But, not that many.
The service was, uhm, lackluster verging on put upon.
I was the only customer in the store when I walked in. The person I asked to show me where the buttons were could barely be bothered. I had to ask several times what she meant by «just beyond the box».
Then, when I went to pay I stood next to her (she was near a cash register) and said, «Is this where I should pay?» She said, «HUH?»
Sheesh!
They do have some decent craft supplies plus canvases which is always good to know when the need to paint takes hold of me. (so they get a star for that alone)

You know, there’s a lot of truth to the saying «Don’t judge a book by its cover». Because, while the outside of this establishment is completely off-​the-​charts sketchy, the inside is just like every other JoAnn’s you’ve been into.
I scored a remnant of some sweet gray suede for half price – almost a full yard for only $ 6. Now, if only I can figure out how to reupholster a seat cover…