Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft

4514 N. HARLEM, United States
Went to the store on 4514 n. Harlem in Norridge, IL. Today for the first time with two coupons just to browse? NEVER AGAIN ! Got up to the checkout, one person ringing, 8 or 9 people in line! Seriously? Come on! Clerk should have enough brains to call for help when it is needed. Gave my coupon to a grateful customer and the other to the mod of the fabric cutting dept. And told them I was walking out. Told the clerk when I walked out that, «you guys need to call for help when you have a line.» Never again!!!

Their customer service sucks and the sales people are rude. I called to ask for a specific piece of fabric, the customer service person transferred me… I waited on the line for 10 minutes then disconnected the call. I tried to call back but, no answer.

This Joann fabrics has really stepped up their game as far as customer service goes. All the employees are excellent! A special shout out to the girl with the nose piercings and tattoos (sorry don’t know her name). I go to this Joanns often and she actually remembers me and is quite chatty. The Asian guy at the register was excellent as well, he pointed me in the right direction for scissors that fit my needs perfectly. As a customer and a business owner it means a lot to me when I walk in a store and receive great customer service. The Joanns on elston could learn a thing or two from this location.

I’ve been here a number of times– mainly because it’s the closest fabric store that I can find to my home. The one cutting lady (much older than rest of staff) is somewhat knowledgeable, but as every other review states, quite rude on a regular basis. I wonder what her backstory is and if she needs some TLC or something. I did overhear her trying to be nice to other clients this last trip, but I was glad that there was someone else to cut my fabric as she always treats me ill.
Just recently they’ve finally hired more staff. Thank heavens! New girl from London, even going on four hours’ sleep, was infinitely better at her cutting and customer service skills. (She gives the place a second star.) I’d give her candy and a raise for actually doing her job with a smile. New manager, a younger Asian fellow who was quite affable. The check-​out clerk allowed me to pull up as many coupons as I could on my phone for the best deal that I could get ($ 20 off by the time 3 coupons used.) I’ll admit that the next customer (I was there initially by myself for the line, miraculously) wouldn’t have liked it, but it is true that normally the place is severely under-​staffed so that finding another clerk to help the next person might have been like finding Jimmy Hoffa.
The parking lot is basically a gravel-​strewn mess with few lines. There are only three stores left in the strip-​mall area (Go Bananas and American Mattress being the other two). I see at least For Lease Signs, if not For Sale for general area, including for the back old theater.
I go there because Michael’s has no fabric to speak of, and I’m looking into other fabric places because I really can’t get what I’m looking for at JoAnn’s. Their selection… is kind of depressing. Their quilting fabrics are regularly very expensive. Their apparel fabrics are much too sheer for what I need, and their bridal stock (I want to make a white dress. Already married, but I want/​need one for other things) is limited to three bolts. I realize that it’s not the traditional wedding season, but this is just white fabric in general in the special occasion section. Homecoming is coming up, right? I haven’t seen any velvet there, and it’s SO limited! They have a TON of fleece, but I never sew fleece. I think that they are doing better on their home craft cloth, but it’s over in a corner away from the rest of the fabric. This place is better for children’s fabrics and for simple home décor, but I otherwise typically feel disappointed even knowing better.

They have great items here but absolutely no one to help on the sales floor. I asked the lady in the front for help or if there was anyone on the sales floor who could help me and she looked at me like I have five heads. I told her what I was looking for and she pointed me towards the ribbons yes I know where the ribbons are but I don’t know exactly what kind of ribbon I was looking for there’s a specific name and I’m sure she knew what it was but it was too much trouble for her to walk over and help me find it. Either they need more staff or they need to train their staff and customer service a little better.

Debbie was such a great help. You need more workers like her there. She knew where everything was located, super friendly and knew a lot about the products. I was looking for a particular item and she knew exactly where it was located. Prices are a little high in my opinion, but still do-​able.

I only go here if I can’t find what I am looking for somewhere else. In all my years of going here, it is rare to find a pleasant employee. I have seen it with myself and with other customers. They are the most miserable bunch of women working in one place.

Am I expecting too much?
There were 11 people in line.
Just 1 cashier. What are they going to do when the store is busy?
The employees had the personality of a wet rag.
Okay. I am done now.

This is one of the worst craft stores I’ve been to.
First of all, it’s kind of hard to see, set back far from the road, and the front of the store faces the parking lot, not the road. The parking lot felt sketchy. I wouldn’t want ot be there alone at night.
The store itself is one of the smaller ones, and their inventory reflects that. I feel like they didn’t have a lot to offer.
Good luck trying to find someone to help you. I was looking for something specific, couldn’t find it, and couldn’t even flag down anyone to ask.
The fabric section is tiny — the smallest stock I’ve seen at any JoAnn’s, and everything was completely disheveled. Good luck finding anything. We were lucky and saw the fabric we had been searching for, but it was the end of the roll. We took it up to the counter, waited forever, and asked if there was more. The employee left and went in the back and said there was no more. Bummer, but understandable.
We did still get batting and foam cut for us. The foam is not cheap, and we were a bit surprised when she told us the price. Still, we needed it for some cushions, so we gave specific measurements. We got home and realized we had waaaay more than we asked for. I’m going to check the receipt — i hope we weren’t charged for it!
I won’t come here again. I’d much rather drive a bit farther and head to a different store.

Although the staff here are generally unfriendly and condescending if you ask for help, my problem was with the way a cashier (Joy) was treating the woman she was checking out. I was in line and there were quite a few people in front of me. Joy was ringing up a woman who initially sent her daughter in to pay for something, but the girl had to go get her mother because of an issue with the credit card. I’ve never heard anyone be that snide and unpleasant toward a customer in my entire life. I figured Joy was probably an ill mannered woman in general, but she was polite and chatty with the next 3 women she rang up. The woman she was so extremely obnoxious toward wore a hijab and was obviously a Muslim woman. At this point, seeing how she didn’t speak to anyone else that way, I assumed that was Joy’s problem. Such a vile human being shouldn’t be working in customer service, and if she was my employee I would’ve let her go on the spot. My wife comes to this store for all her projects, but she was even more disgusted with the interaction than I was and we both agreed never to come back here.

APPALLED! with the costumer service at this store. The only reason I even continue to shop there is how conveniently located they are. let me just start off by saying that when I arrived at the store I noticed some cute autumn décor, having a private conversation with my mother I mentioned how I wouldn’t spend $ 40 on a stuffed fabric pumpkin. From deep within the Aisle I hear the rude condescending tone of an employee loudly proclaim «well don’t but it then!»… excuse me?. ok, moving on I continued on my quest for the Fabric I was looking for. did anyone ask if I might need help?.. no. at at all. ok fine I went to a design school I know what I’m looking for but it would have been nice. Apparently nice/​pleasant/​friendly are not words this location lives by because when I got to the cutting counter, It was like I was speaking with an emotionless droid, who offered no assistance what so ever and even bug eyed/​rolled eyes me and my mother while we briefly discussed whether she wanted throw pillows to match. IT DOESNT STOP THERE! at checkout time once again I was «greeted» with a blank stare. no emotions, no smiles, no happiness. I feel like I entered the swamps of sadness and it was sucking me down with it. I was happy to leave and enter the outside world where emotions run ramped. How terrible of an experience, and this is the first time this has happened. I have been going there for years and its always the same, but after that un ethical comment I heard I had to write a review because thats just not acceptable.

Wow, I guess I should have read the reviews on this place before I decided to feel crafty and try to purchase something here. This type of business is one of those benign things that I would never expect to be leaving a review about, but this experience was SO horrible I couldn’t wait to get home and leave one. Reading other reviews I’m kind of glad to know I wasn’t singled out and the staff here is consistently terrible but I am puzzled about why this is allowed to continue yet this place still stays in business.
Alright… I am not a crafty person. I love to pin things and love to dream about the day I will be crafty but dreams and reality are not nearly the same. That being said, I do have a small project that I would like to do to make a Halloween costume for my infant. It’s simple and can be done without sewing… so off I went to get the fabric I needed. I printed a photo since there are no instructions… it’s pretty straight-​forward so I don’t really think detailed instructions are necessary. OH BOY… upon approaching the fabric cutter after selecting the fabric I wanted I began to ask a few simple questions about how much fabric I would need of each color while referring to my photo and referencing size physically on me… well she basically looked at me like I had escaped from a mental institution and emphatically stated that without instructions and measurements there was absolutely NO WAY she could even begin to estimate such a thing. Then she just continued to scrunch up her face, shake her head and say «I don’t know», «How am I supposed to know», «I couldn’t tell you», «You should know» and any number of other variations showing what an imbecile I was until I unloaded the fabric I had in my cart, threw it on the counter and told her to forget it. Then I quickly left the counter before I started bawling right in front of her… no lie.
It’s not like I was trying to construct an intricate wedding dress, it is basically a piece of fabric that would attach to the front of me… probably with safety pins since it would be for a maximum of an hour. Not rocket science, but since am essentially clueless as to how fabric is sold I had hoped for a slight bit of guidance from the «expert» or someone well-​versed in fabric. Higher hopes would have been a smile and a bit of encouragement… you know… customer service type of behavior. Never did I expect to leave this store in tears!
The only thing I can say about this store is to issue a friendly warning to BEWARE… unless you are an expert crafter that can navigate this store and select ALL of your items confidently and without assistance then please do not go here. I really would hate to see someone else post a review on how their hopes were dashed by an employee who clearly does not enjoy their job and the people and projects it brings them in contact with.
I will still be making my Halloween costume, because I know it won’t be that hard. I will find someplace that will help me or just make my best guess at what I need… Clearly however, I will NOT… never, ever, ever, never be setting foot in this store again. Boooooo!!! (and no, that’s not about Halloween)

What does this company do to their fabric cutters that makes them so incredibly rude? This is a trend for me at Joann stores — they talk to me as if I were an idiot. Not the best way to keep my business.

I LOVE this store! Yes it’s small, and no, they usually don’t have a huge stock of each item, but it’s still a great place for low price craft stuff. The employee that checked me out the other night was so nice and she even helped me get more coupons on my smartphone. I wound up using three 40% off coupons and saved over $ 15.

There is more usable fabric here than at the larger Joann’s on Elston. The rest of the store is well-​maintained and well-​arranged; it has its share of junk mixed with a full supply of quality crafting and sewing supplies. The staff is human, and some are more human than others, and some go out of their way to be helpful. Yes, the cutting counter can get crowded, but personally it’s fun to chat with fellow-​crafters and sewers while I wait. One never fails to be entertained by their enthusiasm nor to get any necessary project advice.

This place is extremely understaffed. If you have a question do not expect to find someone who can answer it anytime soon. None of the isles are labeled causing you to wander aimlessly throughout the store. Not to add slim pickings of notions. Will not be returning.

I’ve come for t-​shirt material, yarn, and buttons and have easily found everything I wanted. All of the employees I’ve come across have been friendly and helpful. I was welcomed upon entering and have been offered help as I wandered the isles. The layout of the store makes sense and the isles are well-​organized.
I found the selection of fabrics, yarn, and buttons to be far superior than either Hobby Lobby (who didn’t have fabric or yarn at all) or Wal-​Mart. Jo-Ann’s also had many other helpful supplies such as Sharpie markers for writing on ceramics.
The first time I went to Jo-Ann’s I signed up to get coupons in the mail. The second time I went, I brought the coupons and the gentleman at the register told me about how I could look up a coupon on my smart phone for extra savings. In fact, he encouraged me to sign up for SMS (text message) and email coupons. He explained that I could have saved much more money by combining all of the different coupons (mail, SMS, email, website, AND smart phone app).

I personally love Jo Ann’s to buy my yarn to crochet. The shelves are stocked and full of amazing yarn that I wish was all mine. Anyways, they have a great yarn selection, and fabric selection. The cashiers are. .. alright. Not the friendliest bunch, at least those I have come across. Anyways, Michael’s does not have such a great selection of yarn as this place, and has no fabric (just a heads up for those who may not have known.) Anyways, I love how this place is close to home and easy to get to for me at least. :)

Me and my best friend were shopping for material to make cute cocktail dresses. But when we picked out our fabric we had to wait in line for a long time for our fabric to be cut and since I went there an hour before they closed, they stopped any kind of organizational methods, so when we picked a ticket to save our place in line while we browsed; no numbers were called out, hence the reason we just ended up going last. It just wasn’t worth the hassle.
On top of that as we were browsing for accessories an employee walking by and putting up the new sales for the next day rudely made a comment about us making sure we DON’T look at the sales for tomorrow — like we really cared anyway, but the random rudeness was what startled me.
I do like what they have in stock though, when it’s actually stocked, but if I had a smaller mom and pop shop in my area I would definitely prefer it over Jo-​Ann Fabrics.

I had to wait in line over 20min just to get 1 yd of a trim cut at the cutting table at this location.
This store seems to have a smaller selection & staff than other area stores… I went in after a week of sales on elastic and they had not a single bit of black elastic in the whole store. Ugh.
This is the closest Jo-​Ann to my house, but I much prefer the Elston Ave. location’s bigger selection, even if it means more crowds.