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): April 2, 2008

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 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(d) On April 2, 2008, the Board of Directors of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. ("Jo-Ann") appointed Joseph M. DePinto and David A. Perdue, Jr. as members of the Board, effective as of that day. Mr. DePinto fills a formerly vacant seat on the Board and Mr. Perdue fills a newly added position. At the time of this filing, neither Mr. DePinto nor Mr. Perdue has been named to any committee of the Board. Neither Mr. DePinto nor Mr. Perdue was selected as a director pursuant to any arrangement or understanding with any other person, and neither has any reportable transactions under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with the appointment to the Board, each of Mr. DePinto and Mr. Perdue will receive options to purchase 10,000 common shares of Jo-Ann. In addition, Mr. DePinto and Mr. Perdue will receive Jo-Ann’s standard compensation applicable to non-management directors.

A copy of Jo-Ann’s press release announcing Mr. DePinto’s and Mr. Perdue’s appointment to the Boa rd is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1 Press Release of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., dated April 2, 2008.

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.
April 2, 2008	By:	/s/ David Goldston
		Name: David Goldston
		Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., dated April 2, 2008.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Investor Contact:	Public Relations Contact:
Brad Cohen Integrated Corporate Relations, Inc. 330/463-6865 http://www.joann.com	Lisa Greb Director, Public Relations Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. 330/463-3442

JO-ANN STORES ELECTS TWO NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HUDSON, OH – April 2, 2008 — The Board of Directors of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (NYSE: JAS) today announced the election of two new members, Joseph M. DePinto, President and Chief Executive Officer of 7-Eleven, Inc., and David A. Perdue, Jr., former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dollar General Corporation.

Mr. DePinto has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of 7-Eleven, Inc., the world’s largest convenience retailer, since 2005. During 2005 he served as President of GameStop, Inc., the leading videogame and entertainment software retailer. From 2002 to 2005 Mr. DePinto was an executive with 7-Eleven, serving as Vice President, Operations from 2003 to 2005, and as Division Vice President from 2002 to 2003. Prior to that, he also held executive positions at PepsiCo, Inc. Mr. DePinto currently serves on the boards of 7-Eleven, Inc. and OfficeMax Incorporated.

Mr. Perdue served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dollar General Corporation, a Fortune 500 discount retailer operating more than 8,000 stores, from 2003 to 2007. Before joining Dollar General, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pillowtex Corporation, a home textile manufacturer, and prior to that held senior management positions with leading consumer products companies including Reebok International Ltd., Haggar Corporation and Sara Lee Corporation. Mr. Perdue currently serves on the board of Alliant Energy Corporation.

Darrell Webb, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. said, “Mr. DePinto and Mr. Perdue bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our Board. Their experience as Chief Executive Officers operating companies with large retail store networks should allow them to provide valuable insight to our Company. We are honored to have them join us as we continue to work towards driving long-term profitable growth to enhance shareholder value.”

Mr. DePinto fills a formerly vacant seat on the Board, while Mr. Perdue fills a newly added position, increasing the total Board size to ten members. Both men will be up for re-election at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 11, 2008.

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (http://www.joann.com), the leading national fabric and craft retailer with locations in 47 states, operates 196 large-format stores and 578 small-format stores.