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 18, 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 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE


     On August 18, 2003, Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. issued a press release, announcing
that Tracey T. Travis, Senior Vice-President, Finance for Limited Brands, Inc.,
was elected to the Board on August 14, 2003. A copy of this press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.







                                   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 18, 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 18, 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 NEW BOARD MEMBER

HUDSON, OH, August 18, 2003 -- (NYSE: JAS.A and JAS.B) The Board of Directors
of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. announced today that Tracey T. Travis, Senior
Vice-President, Finance for Limited Brands, Inc., was elected to the Board on
August 14, 2003.

Travis has been with Limited since 2001. Prior to her current position she was
the Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Intimate Brands,
Inc. Previously she served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Beverage Can
Americas group of American National Can. Travis also spent 10 years with Pepsi
in increasingly responsible positions, including a general managership of one of
Pepsi's market units. She started her career at General Motors while earning an
MBA in finance and operations management from Columbia University.

"Tracey brings a wealth of experience and expertise in financial matters from
both retailing and consumer products perspectives. We are certain that Tracey
will be a strong addition to our Board and we are excited to have her
contribution as we execute our growth plans," said Alan Rosskamm, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer.

Jo-Ann Stores also announced that Betty Rosskamm and Alma Zimmerman, two of the
founders of the company, resigned from the board and were elected to the newly
created honorary position of Director Emeritus.

Veteran director Scott Cowen praised the women for their dedication in growing
the company from one store in 1943 to over nine hundred stores today. "Alma and
Betty have steadfastly provided leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment
to our customers," said Cowen. "We are pleased to honor them in this way and
will continue to seek their advice and counsel as the company grows."

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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