As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2002


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                       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, 2001



                           COMMISSION FILE NO: 1-6695



                               JO-ANN STORES, INC.
                         ASSOCIATE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
              (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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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Advisory Committee, the administrator of the Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. Associate Stock
Ownership Plan, has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


March 30, 2002
Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
Associate Stock Ownership Plan




Brian Carney
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary of Advisory Committee
























                                   Page 2 of 3




                               JO-ANN STORES, INC.
                         ASSOCIATE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



              OFFICIAL
             EXHIBIT NO.           DESCRIPTION
             -----------           ------------

                23                 Consent of Independent Public Accountants

                99                 Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
                                   Associate Stock Ownership Plan

                                   Financial Statements
                                   As of December 31, 2001
                                   Together With Report of
                                   Independent Public Accountants

                99.1               Letter to Securities and Exchange Commission