8-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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): January 6, 2005

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio	001-06695	34-0720629
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
5555 Darrow Rd, Hudson, Ohio		44236
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

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

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 6, 2005, Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. issued a press release announcing its net sales for the five weeks and year-to-date period as of January 1, 2005. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

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.

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
January 6, 2005	By:	/s/ Brian Carney
		Name: Brian Carney
		Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. dated January 6, 2005.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

JO-ANN STORES ANNOUNCES DECEMBER SALES RESULTS

HUDSON, OH — January 6, 2005 — Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (NYSE: JAS), the leading national fabric and craft retailer, reported today that December net sales increased 6.2% to $261.5 million versus $246.3 million in the same period last year. December same-store sales increased 4.2% compared to a same-store sales increase of 5.4% last year.

Year-to-date net sales increased 4.3% to $1.68 billion from $1.61 billion in the prior year. Year-to-date same-store sales increased 2.9% versus a same-store sales increase of 3.1% for the comparable period last year.

Upcoming Investor Conferences

On Tuesday, January 11, 2005, the Company will be presenting at the SG Cowen Consumer Conference in New York City. Jo-Ann’s presentation will be webcast live at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

On Thursday, January 13, 2005, the Company will be presenting at the Seventh Annual ICR XChange in Carlsbad, California. Jo-Ann’s presentation will be webcast live at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

To listen to either of these webcasts, please log onto the Company’s website at http://www.joann.com. On the top button of the home page, click on “Jo-Ann Stores,” and then click on “Investor Relations” under the heading “Our Company.” Links to the webcasts will be provided under the headings “SG Cowen Consumer Conference” and “ICR XChange”. Webcast replays will be available for three months on the Company’s website.

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (http://www.joann.com), the leading national fabric and craft retailer with locations in 47 states, operates 743 Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts traditional stores and 114 Jo-Ann superstores.

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