JoAnn Fabrics To Fill Old Navy's Spot In New Town

JoAnn Fabrics To Fill Old Navy's Spot In New Town

By Amber Lester Kennedy Thursday, November 18, 2010

A JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts store will be moving into New Town this spring.

JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts sells fabric, sewing and quilting materials, scrapbooking supplies, craft items, yarn, home décor, lighting and more. Currently, the nearest location of the chain craft store is in Newport News. The store will fill the former 15,378-square-foot location of Old Navy, which has been vacant since the retailer left one year ago. It is expected to open around April 15, 2011, according to leasing agent Nathan Shor.

Further down Main Street in New Town, American Family Fitness is hoping to expand the currently vacant space next to Opus 9 by extending 12,400 square feet at the rear of the building. The plan is currently under review by the James City County Planning Department. American Family Fitness, a Richmond-based chain, announced its intention to move into New Town in April.

JoAnn joins several other businesses that have moved to the Main Street area of New Town recently, including World of Wine, Elements Home Décor and Fine Gifts and Toys R Us Express.

Comments

0 #13 Alexis 2012-04-15 11:40

JoAnn Fabric and Craft is a wonderful addition to New Town.

I'm moving back to the area after having lived in another state for the past 20 years. I see there've been lots of changes to my home town since I've been gone.

I'm a long-time crafter and appreciate the fact that JoAnn's is going to be nearby. I'll certainly be a steady customer :-)

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+1 #12 Guest 2010-11-19 15:42

Jake, I completely agree with you. That was exactly my point. Repurpose the vacant Ukrops building up by 64, erect something on the barren wasteland behind Baker's Crust and Trader Joe, rent space in existing buildings - anything to utilize existing space and not strip clear green space for a new commercial area. This urban planning is creating blight and denuding our beautiful town.

Bob was called a "bitter pill" for saying "Too bad the Fresh Market couldn't expand into the already built areas of New Town instead of bulldozing an area to use many years from now." I think he is absolutely right.

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-1 #11 Guest 2010-11-19 10:14

I don't follow your logic at all, CMA. Why not re-use existing buildings and infrastructure first (some of which have even received public funds for roads, curb cuts, etc) instead of tearing up new and unimproved areas for more stores/etc? Land and resources are not infinite.

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-3 #10 Guest 2010-11-18 21:48

How does suggesting that currently vacant space be efficiently and economically utilized merit a "bitter pill" designation? Wmsbg is rife with derelict strips and thousands of empty square feet of retail space. Strip clearing another parcel of land for Fresh Market while vacant space yawns like a ghost town across the street makes no sense. AT ALL.

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0 #9 Guest 2010-11-18 21:23

Bob, your crass words expose you to be a bitter pill.

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+6 #8 Guest 2010-11-18 17:33

FINALLY a wonderful, quality craft store in Williamsburg! Michaels backed out of their commitment (according to an employee in the Newport News location)so JoAnn will now get all of what would have been their potential business as well.
This is wonderful news for artists, crafters, sewers, jewelry makers, etc., etc., etc. :-)

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-16 #7 Guest 2010-11-18 13:40

New Town would a super location for a Chuck-E-Cheez! Let's get one!

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-1 #6 Guest 2010-11-18 10:45

The Landlord of Main Street in New Town let Old Navy leave because of stupidity and greed. Only to replace it with a JoAnn Fabrics? Now they want to put in a new gym to directly compete with Ironbound gym? Owned and operated by a longtime local. They have NO development plan...they would sign a lease with the devil...but he is too smart.

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-5 #5 Guest 2010-11-18 10:31

LOOK at what's happening, with a positive take, right here on WYDaily...inste ad of the recent local negativism slant around town in the news media in general. The STIGMA is being erased! Good locals took over and in control....

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+5 #4 Guest 2010-11-18 09:55

I am campaigning to get a Noodles and Co. restaurant to take Cheeburger's place in New Town or anywhere in town! Go to their website and put the pressure on!
http://www.noodles.com/

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