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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1




CONTACT: Brian Carney                           Investor Relations:
         Executive Vice President, CFO          Naomi Rosenfeld/Carolyn Capaccio
         Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.                    Michele Loguidice
         330/656-2600                           Press:  Stacy Berns/Stacy Roth
         http://www.joann.com                   Morgen-Walke Associates
                                                212/850-5600


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------

                            JO-ANN STORES COMMENTS ON
                         EXPECTED FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS


         HUDSON, OH, December 2, 1999--Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (NYSE: JAS.A and
JAS.B) today announced that quarter to date net comparable store sales, while
increasing at a low single digit rate over the prior year, are well below the
Company's expectations. In particular, comparable store sales rates during the
Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend declined versus the prior year. The
Company attributes the shortfall of this weekend to the adoption of a less
promotional stance than last year, which management had believed would have been
more than offset by a much improved in-stock position this year than in the
prior year.

         Although business trends in subsequent days have improved to stronger
levels, the Company currently anticipates that fourth quarter earnings, although
still expected to exceed last year's earnings of $1.08 per share, are likely to
fall short of analysts' current fourth quarter expectations. Fourth quarter
results remain heavily dependent upon the level of seasonal sales yet to be
realized during the month of December.

         Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (http://www.joann.com), the leading national fabric
and craft retailer with locations in 49 states, operates 1,009 Jo-Ann Fabrics
and Crafts traditional stores and 42 Jo-Ann etc superstores.

         This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are
subject to risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company's Securities and
Exchange Commission filings.


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