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Your local Michaels might look a little different next time you stop by.
In August, the craft retailer announced that it would be testing a new "experiential" format intended to make its stores feel less like traditional retail and more like destinations for inspiration and creativity.
But there's a major caveat: the new format won't be nationwide (yet!). Initially, the retailer plans to open just three of these experiential stores, with additional locations coming over the next several months.
As we not-so-patiently wait for the rollout to make its way across the entire Michaels fleet, we've rounded up everything you need to know about the new formats, including where to find them.
Michaels is rethinking the craft store
The redesigned Michaels stores will be organized around what the retailer has dubbed "shopping worlds."
Each world will highlight not only the materials Michaels sells for that specific type of crafting, but also the various projects that can be made with said materials.
"Each world features dynamic lifestyle vignettes to provide inspiration by highlighting key products, creative projects, and step-by-step styling instructions," the retailer said in a press release.
Michaels Is Putting Knit & Sew Front and Center
The Knit & Sew shop will anchor the new worlds. Placed near the front of the redesigned stores, it will be home to the company's largest-ever assortment of fabric and textiles.
A key feature of this space will be the industry's first "swatch bar," a place for shoppers to physically sample swatches of each of the company's 1,000+ fabric offerings. If they find one they like, shoppers can order it directly via QR code or have a staff member assist them in setting up home delivery.
Michaels has had in-store sewing centers since 2025, after it acquired JOANN's IP. However, the move to the front of the store seemingly indicates that the crafting retailer is going to be placing a larger emphasis on the segment.
Other Michaels Departments Are Getting a Refresh
Other expanded worlds, or departments, in the redesigned stores include:
- The Party Center — A dedicated celebration hub including an expanded assortment of party wares and decor, a balloon bar, and an upgraded event space.
- Fine Arts — Featuring creative waterfall elements to showcase more products and deeper counters that make selecting canvases easier than ever.
- Floral & Greenery — A unified space bringing real-touch and outdoor-ready products together, so shoppers can easily create their own arrangements.
- Framing — The new home of Michaels' ready-made and custom framing departments, which gives shoppers access to services like 10-minute custom framing and brand-new personalization services, like embroidery, engraving, and made-to-order stickers.
Michaels Wants Shoppers to Stick Around and Create
As shoppers explore the stores, they will also have access to five interactive stations intended to spark creativity. These include:
- Candy Bar
- Favor Bar
- Charmed Bar
- Patch Bar
- Marker Bar
For shoppers who are after a little more guidance, the stores' redesigned Welcome Centers will be staffed with knowledgeable team members brimming with ideas and inspiration. The Welcome Centers will also feature a queue for Michaels Rewards members to access fast self-checkouts and an assisted line for customers who prefer it.
So, Is Your Michaels Getting a Makeover?
So far, Michaels has announced the locations of just three of these new store models — Easton, Ohio, Irving, Texas, and Rogers, Arkansas.
But if that short list doesn't include your local Michaels, there's no need to worry. The retailer says it plans to open additional concept stores and bring certain enhanced elements to existing locations throughout the remainder of 2026.
Where those next updates are coming has not yet been made public, but shoppers can keep an eye on Michaels' website for updates.
Why Michaels Is Changing Its Stores Now
The format is part of a larger effort to capture opportunities created by the collapse of some of Michaels' biggest competitors.
Party City's bankruptcy in 2023 and JOANN's bankruptcy in 2025 left large gaps in the industry. In response, Michaels has massively expanded its own fabric and party supply assortments. Now, it seems, the crafting retailer is working to reposition itself as a broader destination for both creativity and celebration, not just a craft store.
The new concept stores "represent an exciting milestone within Michaels' broader transformation to redefine the customer journey and become a true destination for creativity and celebration," David Boone, CEO of Michaels, said in a statement accompanying the initial announcement.
"The new format reflects our customers' desire for more inspiration and hands-on, analog experiences, while providing a space for the local community to connect, create, and celebrate."
Bottom line
Even if your store never gets the complete makeover, the experiment offers a pretty clear look at where Michaels is headed.
The retailer is betting that shoppers want more than aisles of supplies. Instead, it's choosing to emphasize inspiration, personalization, convenience, and experiences.
It's a strategy that makes sense in a post-Joann and Party City world. Michaels can use the categories left behind by those competitors to become a one-stop shop for crafting, sewing, parties, and personalized projects.
For now, though, the new Michaels are still a work in progress. The three experiential stores are testing what works, while the rest of the chain waits to see which pieces eventually make the leap from pilot to standard store feature.
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