Exhibit 23.1


                           CONSENT OF LEHMAN BROTHERS


     We hereby consent to the use of our opinion letter dated May 17, 2003 to
the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of Jo-Ann Stores,
Inc. (the "Company") in the Company's proxy statement/prospectus (the
"Prospectus") which is part of the Company's Form S-4 Registration Statement
filed on or about the date hereof, as the same may be amended (the "Registration
Statement"), to the filing of such opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, and to the references to our firm in the Prospectus. In giving such
consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder and we do not thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any
part of the Registration Statement under the meaning of the term "expert" as
used in the Securities Act.

/s/  LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

May 19, 2003