One of west Knoxville's most visible empty storefronts is finally getting a new life. Bob's Discount Furniture is taking over the former Joann Fabrics space near West Town Mall, with the company expecting the full transition to be wrapped up by the end of 2026. The long-vacant craft store at The Centre at Deane Hill is set to become a full-service furniture showroom, adding another regional player to the busy Morrell Road retail strip. Contractors are already in the mix on planning and bidding documents, a sign that the build-out is gearing up ahead of an eventual opening.
Bob's Takes Over The Deane Hill Joann Space
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Bob's Discount Furniture has confirmed plans to move into the former Joann unit at The Centre at Deane Hill. Company spokesperson Sarah Tornatore told the paper the new showroom will carry office, patio, dining room, and kids' bedroom furniture, along with rugs and mattresses, and that the rollout is slated to be completed by the end of 2026. The deal follows the craft retailer's exit from the site the previous year.
Joann's Bankruptcy And A National Shake-Up
The space only opened up after a rocky stretch for Joann. The retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2024 and returned to court in early 2025 as it wrestled with weak sales and inventory problems. The AP reported that Joann moved into a wind-down process and began going-out-of-business sales, freeing up leases around the country for new tenants. Public filings lay out the legal trail from that first Chapter 11 move through the restructuring steps, and an SEC document details the initial case and confirmation of the prepackaged plan.
Construction Filings Reveal The Fit-Out
Commercial planroom listings show an interior build-out labeled "Bob's Discount Furniture" at 276 Morrell Road, the former Joann address, with bidding activity taking place in May 2026. That timing points to lease work and contractor arrangements already in motion. The project is described as an interior retail fit-out, a standard step before heavier storefront remodeling begins. LDI Planroom lists the project's location and bid date.
What Knoxville Shoppers Can Expect
Bob's is known for large-format showrooms stocked with living-room and bedroom sets, mattresses, area rugs, and outdoor furniture, categories that show up consistently on its store and product pages. The company's store finder currently lists a showroom in Greenville, South Carolina, as the closest Bob's location to East Tennessee, so a Knoxville outpost would give local shoppers an in-town option. The Greenville location's offerings and services are laid out on Bob's site.
For Knoxville residents, Bob's arrival would swap a shuttered craft chain for a big-box furniture option and could eventually mean new local jobs once showroom and warehouse teams are staffed up. This story will be updated as the company and contractors lock in an official opening date and hiring timeline.
