The Old Joann Fabrics on Whittier Blvd Is Being Split Into 3 Businesses
This stretch of Whittier Blvd is now zoned for high-density housing. The redevelopment was approved just months before the change took effect.
The former Joann Fabrics store on Whittier Boulevard has sat empty since closing. Now, city documents confirm the vacant building is being redeveloped into a three-tenant commercial center — and depending on how the surrounding area develops, it could end up being one of the only commercial spaces left on this stretch of the boulevard.
On May 14, the Whittier Design Review Board approved a Master Sign Program for the property — essentially a rulebook to ensure future tenant signs look coordinated. But the sign program isn't really the story here. It's a window into what's coming. While no tenants have been announced, the building is actively under construction and detailed architectural plans have already been submitted to the city. The project is referred to as a "commercial center," signaling that it will be home to active retail or service businesses.
How a national chain closure left a gap on the boulevard
The Joann Fabrics store that occupied 16051 Whittier Blvd was a massive single-tenant retail space. The company had been struggling financially for several years, filing for bankruptcy twice within a year before announcing in February 2025 that it would close all of its nearly 800 stores nationwide by the end of May 2025. After the Whittier location closed, the building sat largely vacant, becoming a visible gap on the boulevard.
Site photos submitted to the city as part of the approval process show the building is mid-renovation. New wood-framed roof canopy structures have been installed along the storefront, giving it the appearance of a craftsman-style commercial strip. The parking lot has not yet been resurfaced.
The property is owned by 16051 Whittier LP, a limited partnership based in Tarzana. The development application was submitted by Ronald Lam.
Plans were in motion before the closure was even announced
In July 2024, the city approved a permit allowing the existing commercial site to be partitioned into three new tenant suites and to receive an exterior remodel. That was roughly seven months before Joann publicly announced it was closing all of its stores — meaning the developer had already secured approval to redevelop this location while the chain was still operating and before any public word of a full shutdown.
The three suites are labeled Suite A, Suite B, and Suite C in the site plans. Based on the floor plan included in the signage documents, Suite A appears to be the largest space, located on the west end of the building. Suites B and C occupy the center and east portions, respectively.
None of the three suites have named tenants in any of the city documents reviewed for this story. The sign program uses "Tenant Name" placeholders throughout, which is standard practice — businesses are often not locked in until construction is further along.
A zoning detail worth flagging
The property is officially zoned for high-density residential housing — not commercial use. In fact, the entire stretch of Whittier Boulevard from Santa Gertrudes Avenue to Valley Home Avenue carries R-4 residential zoning, which allows residential development at up to 35 dwelling units per acre, with buildings up to 35 feet tall sitting as close as 5 feet from property lines. It remains unclear how many commercial spaces, if any, will be permitted along this stretch under the new zoning.
What comes next
The approval does not identify future tenants or indicate when businesses may open. Each individual sign will still require its own separate city permit before it can be installed. And the building itself must pass inspections before it can receive a certificate of occupancy — the document that legally allows a business to operate.
Whittier Informed will continue monitoring city permit records and the property for any updates on tenants or a timeline.
