The news keeps getting worse for fans of fabric and crafting store Joann, which is now set to close more than half of its locations across the U.S.

The embattled retailer first filed for bankruptcy in March 2024 after securing around $132 million in new financing to put towards its $1 billion debt. That time around, the company stayed afloat by choosing to go private. However, a rash of store closures followed before the company again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January to "facilitate a sale process to maximize the value of its business."

"Since becoming a private company in April, the Board and management team have continued to execute on top-and bottom-line initiatives to manage costs and drive value,” Michael Prendergast, interim CEO of Joann, said in January. “However, the last several years have presented significant and lasting challenges in the retail environment, which, coupled with our current financial position and constrained inventory levels, forced us to take this step."

Now, Joann has confirmed that it plans to close 500 of its roughly 850 stores nationwide.

"This was a very difficult decision to make, given the major impact we know it will have on our Team Members, our customers and all of the communities we serve," Joann said in a statement to USA TODAY on Wednesday. "A careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the Company determined which stores should remain operating as usual at this time."

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The spokesperson said the closures are part of the ongoing Chapter 11 process and that Joann has already filed a motion in court to get the go-ahead to shutter the roughly 500 locations.

"Right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward for JOANN," the statement continued.

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Which Joann locations are closing?

The company has yet to release a full list of store closures. Previously, USA TODAY reported that at least eight stores across Iowa, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts were closing in early January "as part of routine store location evaluation and optimization." This was before the second bankruptcy filing, however.

Court documents show that the new tsunami of closures will happen across all 50 states. Some states, including California, New York, Michigan, Florida, and Indiana, are slated to be hit the hardest.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY