Meanwhile,

a lease has been signed for a 42,000-sq. ft. Jo-Ann etc store

in Fayetteville,.

The store

will be at Fayette Pavilion off Pavilion Parkway. Construction began

in November 2000 and an August 2001 opening is anticipated. Other stores

in the Pavilion include Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Dekor.

The new store

will be the first in Fayetteville. There are five other Jo-Ann etc stores

in Georgia, all in the Greater Atlanta area. In addition, there are

12 traditional Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts stores of approximately

15,000 square feet each in Georgia.

Jo-Ann etc

is the company's newest brand, with stores three times larger than traditional

fabric and craft stores, featuring expanded fabric and crafting products,

a full schedule of educational programs and new custom services side

"The

Jo-Ann etc concept is designed as an entertainment destination for sewing,

craft and home décor enthusiasts through samplings, displays,

demonstrations and classes and workshops for people of all ages and

experience levels," said Alan Rosskamm, president and CEO of Jo-Ann

Stores Inc.

"It's

an exciting concept for fabric and craft enthusiasts in a megastore

setting, a first in this $11 billion sewing and craft industry."

The first

Jo-Ann etc store opened in late 1995 next to the parent company headquarters

in Hudson, Ohio. There are 58 stores nationwide, with 12 scheduled to

open in 2001.

Jo-Ann Stores

Inc., based in Hudson, currently operates more than 1,000 stores nationwide

under the names Jo-Ann etc and Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts. The publicly

traded parent company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as JAS.A

and JAS.B. The company's Web site address is www.joann.com .