1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2001



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549






                                    FORM 11-K

                   /X/ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
                   -------------------------------------------



                           Commission File No: 1-6695
                           --------------------------



                               JO-ANN STORES, INC.
                               SAVINGS PLAN 401(K)
   (Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that
                           of the issuer named below)



                               Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
                                5555 Darrow Road
                                Hudson, OH 44236
                                ----------------
   (Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address
                       of its principal executive office)



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                              REQUIRED INFORMATION

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. Savings Plan 401(k) (the "Plan") is subject to the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). Therefore, in lieu of the
requirements of Items 1-3 of Form 11-K, the financial statements and schedules
of the Plan for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, which
have been prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of
ERISA, are attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by this
reference.


SIGNATURES

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. Savings Plan 401(k) Advisory Committee (or other persons
who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
Savings Plan 401(k)

By:       Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. Savings Plan 401(k) Advisory Committee


/s/   Rosalind Thompson
- -----------------------
Rosalind Thompson                                           June 28, 2001
Committee Chairperson




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                               JO-ANN STORES, INC.
                               SAVINGS PLAN 401(K)

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



      Official
     Exhibit No.           Description
     -----------           -----------



         23                Consent of Independent Public Accountants

         99                Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
                           Savings Plan 401(k)

                           Financial Statements
                           As of December 31, 2000 and 1999
                           Together With Report of
                           Independent Public Accountants






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