8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


         DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) AUGUST 6, 2003


                           COMMISSION FILE NO. 1-6695
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                               JO-ANN STORES, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


             OHIO                                      34-0720629
(State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)


     5555 DARROW ROAD, HUDSON, OHIO                      44236
(Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (330) 656-2600


                                       N/A

         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)









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ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.


     The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the
exhibit attached hereto, is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that Section. Furthermore, the information contained in this
Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


     On August 6, 2003, Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. issued a press release announcing,
among other things, its sales results for the period ended August 2, 2003. A
copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on
Form 8-K.







                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                        JO-ANN STORES, INC.
                                        (Registrant)


Date:  August 6, 2003
                                        By:  /s/ Brian P. Carney
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name: Brian P. Carney
                                        Title: Executive Vice President
                                               and Chief Financial Officer










                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number         Description

99.1                   Press Release of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., dated August 6,
                       2003.

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:    Brian Carney                           Investor Relations:
            Executive Vice President, CFO          Don Tomoff
            Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.                    Vice President, Finance
            330-656-2600                           Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
            http://www.joann.com                   330-463-6815


         JO-ANN STORES ANNOUNCES 9.2% SAME-STORE SALES INCREASE IN JULY


HUDSON, OH--August 6, 2003 - Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (NYSE: JAS.A and JAS.B)
reported today that July net sales increased 8.7% to $114.3 million from $105.2
million for the same period last year. July same-store sales increased 9.2%,
versus a 6.7% same-store sales increase last year.

Net sales for the second quarter ended August 2, 2003 increased 1.6% to $359.2
million from $353.7 million a year ago. Same-store sales for the second quarter
increased 2.4% versus a same-store sales increase of 7.7% for the same period
last year.

Year-to-date net sales increased 1.1% to $734.0 million from $726.1 million in
the prior year. Year-to-date same-store sales increased 2.5%, versus a
same-store sales increase of 10.6% for the six-month period ending August 3,
2002.

Sales for the month of July were aided by the acceleration of clearance sale
events this year that occurred in August of last year. The Company achieved a
strong same-store sales performance for July, but the gross margin rate for the
month was lower than last year due to the clearance events. Margin dollars
generated during the month were in-line with management's expectations.

The Company will report second quarter results on August 18, 2003. In
conjunction with the second quarter earnings release, investors are invited to
listen to the earnings conference call to be broadcast live over the Internet at
4:30 p.m. Eastern time on August 18, 2003. The earnings release will provide
access information.

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (http://www.joann.com), the leading national fabric and
craft retailer with locations in 47 states, operates 826 Jo-Ann Fabrics and
Crafts traditional stores and 83 Jo-Ann superstores.

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