FILING PURSUANT TO RULE 425
                                          OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                          FILER: JO-ANN STORES, INC.

                                          SUBJECT COMPANY: JO-ANN STORES, INC.
                                          (COMMISSION FILE NO. 1-6695)

[JO ANN LOGO]
                                                                October 13, 2003


Dear Team Members,

This past May our Company announced a proposal to reclassify our two types of
common stock (JAS A and JAS B) into a single voting class of stock (JAS). Since
that time we have been completing the required paperwork with the government in
order to put this proposal to a vote of our shareholders. A special meeting of
shareholders has been scheduled for November 4, 2003 to vote on this proposal
(see the attached press release announcement).

I want to provide you with the necessary information in order to help you
understand what the change means and why the change is in the best interest of
the Company and shareholders.

I have tried to make the information more clear by using a question and answer
format, which is shown below. However, if you have any questions or comments
about the stock reclassification please contact Rosalind Thompson in Human
Resources at 1-330-656-2600 (x 3489).

In short, our Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote for this
proposal and I also encourage our Team Members that are shareholders to vote for
the reclassification.

Best Regards,


/s/ Alan Rosskamm

Alan Rosskamm
Chairman, President and CEO

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                      JO-ANN STORES STOCK RECLASSIFICATION
                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A SINGLE CLASS OF COMMON STOCK?

There are many benefits to the reclassification of our stock into a single
class. These benefits include:

     -    A stock structure that's easier for shareholders to understand;

     -    A clearer relation between stock ownership and voting rights; and

     -    Increased daily trading volume making it easier to buy and sell
          shares, making Jo-Ann stock more attractive to potential large
          investors, such as mutual funds and other institutional investors.

2. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO EACH TYPE OF STOCK IF THE RECLASSIFICATION IS APPROVED?

Under the proposal, JAS B shares, which currently do not have voting rights,
will receive one vote per share and become Common Shares. Additionally, JAS A
shares, which currently have one vote per share, will be reclassified into 1.15
Common Shares. This multiple is used to account for the historic difference in
the price between JAS A and JAS B.



                                       1




3. WHO WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE IF THE STOCK RECLASSIFICATION IS RIGHT FOR JO-ANN
STORES?

The reclassification into a single share class must be approved by a majority of
all shareholders (JAS A and JAS B shareholders). In early October, all
shareholders as of the record date (September 10, 2003) were mailed a proxy and
voting materials regarding this proposed transaction.

4. DO I NEED TO GO TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS IF I OWN STOCK?

If you own JAS A or JAS B common shares, you may vote on the stock
reclassification. You do not need to attend the special shareholders meeting to
vote. To vote you need to complete a proxy voting form, which is included in the
mailing sent to you in early October. Depending on your type of ownership
(401(k), ASOP, separately held securities), your mailing was sent from ADP or
your stockbroker. You may receive multiple packages, each of which will require
your vote.

5. I WANT TO VOTE, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A VOTING PACKET?

If you did not receive a voting packet, but believe you should have, please
contact Wendy Stewart at 330-656-2600 (x6617).

6. CAN I TAKE OFF OF WORK TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING?

If you are a Jo-Ann (JAS A or JAS B) shareholder, you are able to attend the
special meeting of the shareholders, but you are not required to attend this
meeting in order to vote on the issue. If you would like to attend the meeting,
you will need to discuss being absent from work with your supervisor, just as if
you were taking off work for any other occasion.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company is soliciting proxies for the special meeting of shareholders
relating to the proposed reclassification transaction through a proxy
statement/prospectus that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as part of a Form S-4 Registration Statement. The Company has mailed
copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, along with proxy forms, to its
shareholders in connection with the special meeting of shareholders. The proxy
statement/prospectus contains important information regarding the solicitation
by the Company and other important information about the reclassification
transaction.

Shareholders of the Company are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus
because it contains important information. Shareholders of the Company may
obtain, free of charge, copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission at
the Internet website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at
www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge by calling Ms.
Wendy Stewart at 330-656-2600.



                                                                               2



[JO ANN LOGO]                                                      NEWS RELEASE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5555 DARROW ROAD . HUDSON . OHIO 44236 . PHONE: 330/656-2600 FAX: 330/463-6675

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


      SPECIAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 4, 2003

HUDSON, OH--October 9, 2003 - Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (NYSE: JAS.A and JAS.B)
announced that it has mailed proxy statements to shareholders of record as of
September 10, 2003, in connection with a proposed reclassification of its two
classes of common shares into one voting class. A special meeting of
shareholders to vote on this proposal, as well as certain other governance
proposals, is scheduled to be held on November 4, 2003 at 8:00 A.M., Eastern
time.

The proposal must be approved by a majority of the shares outstanding of both
the Company's Class A and Class B shares. If approved by the shareholders, the
single class of stock will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange, under the
symbol "JAS" post-reclassification.

Under the proposed reclassification, shares of the Company's Class B shares,
which currently do not have voting rights other than as required by law, will be
amended to have one vote per share and will be re-designated as the Company's
"Common Shares." Each of the Class A shares, which currently have one vote per
share, will be reclassified into 1.15 Common Shares, resulting in the issuance
of approximately 1.6 million additional shares that will increase the Company's
total shares outstanding by approximately 8.0%. The Board of Directors of the
Company has recommended that shareholders vote for the share reclassification.

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (http://www.joann.com), the leading national fabric and
craft retailer with locations in 47 states, operates 819 Jo-Ann Fabrics and
Crafts traditional stores and 85 Jo-Ann superstores.

The Company is soliciting proxies for the special meeting of shareholders
relating to the proposed reclassification transaction through a proxy
statement/prospectus that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as part of a Form S-4 Registration Statement. The Company has mailed
copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, along with proxy forms, to its
shareholders in connection with the special meeting of shareholders. The proxy
statement/prospectus contains important information regarding the solicitation
by the Company and other important information about the reclassification
transaction.

Shareholders of the Company are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus
because it contains important information. Shareholders of the Company may
obtain, free of charge, copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission at
the Internet website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at
www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge by calling Ms.
Wendy Stewart at 330-656-2600.



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"TO SERVE AND INSPIRE CREATIVITY"





Jo-Ann Stores Special Shareholders Meeting
Page 2

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance or achievements
may materially differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking
statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause or contribute to such
material differences include, but are not limited to, general economic
conditions, changes in customer demand, changes in trends in the fabric and
craft industry, seasonality, the availability of merchandise, changes in the
competitive pricing for products, and the impact of our and our competitors'
store openings and closings, fuel and energy costs, changes in tariff and
freight rates, consumer debt levels, and other capital market and geo-political
conditions. Other important factors that may 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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