Going out of business sales are expected to begin immediately at Joann Fabric and Craft Stores as the retailer winds down operations and plans to close for good just weeks after kicking off a first wave of closures.

Fabric and crafts retailer Joann Inc., which has been a destination for generations of quilters, knitters and other lovers of crafts, is going out of business.

Fabric and crafts retailer Joan is closing all of its remaining stores after failing to find a buyer that would keep them open.

Crafts and fabric retailer Joann announces it is closing all of its approximately 800 stores. The company suffered from shrinking sales in recent years and filed for bankruptcy last month. Going-out-of-business sales will begin immediately.

Fabric chain Joann is going out of business and closing all 800 stores, marking the end of an 82-year-old company that was once the leading destination for DIY and crafts enthusiasts.

Fabrics outlet Joann will shutter all of its approximately 800 locations after failing to find a buyer who would keep its stores open.

Among those perusing was Kerry Sullivan, a preschool teacher in Millis who was planning to make sleeping mats for her students. A recent convert to home sewing, Sullivan has been a Joann regular for months and vastly prefers the in-person experience to fabric shopping online.

Joann has announced its plans to shut down all its fabric and craft stores following a bankruptcy filing in January. In a statement released on Sunday, the company confirmed that GA Group, along with the Prepetition Term Loan Agent, has been chosen as the winning bidder to acquire nearly all of Joann's assets.

Joann is now set to close all of its store locations after previously announcing the closure of "approximately 500."

The announcement that the chain would close all 800 of its stores in 49 states comes after a period of financial turmoil.