Oak Ridge Today

Hobby Lobby has grand opening celebration Monday

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The Hobby Lobby at the former Kroger store on South Illinois Avenue has a grand opening on Monday morning, Oct. 3, 2016. The store is pictured above on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 30.

Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. will open in Oak Ridge with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and official grand opening celebration on Monday morning. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. October 3. It’s open to the public.

Hobby Lobby is a privately held national retail chain of craft and home decor stores.

The Oak Ridge store, which will be managed by Michael Ramsey, is Hobby Lobby’s 23rd location in Tennessee. The 63,000-square-foot store is in the former Kroger store in a shopping center near the intersection of South Illinois and South Rutgers avenues.

“We feel blessed for the fantastic opportunity to be a part of the Oak Ridge community,” said John Schumacher, Hobby Lobby assistant vice president of advertising. “Our goal is for customers to experience the exceptional service, selection, and value Hobby Lobby offers.”

Local dignitaries, ambassadors from the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and other business leaders will attend the Monday morning celebration, a press release said. [Read more…]

Work under way at new Hobby Lobby store

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Hobby Lobby Renovations at Kroger June 15 2016 1

Construction work was scheduled to start this month on the new Hobby Lobby store at the former Kroger on South Illinois Avenue, and workers are pictured above at the site of the new Hobby Lobby store on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Construction work was scheduled to start at the beginning of this month at the new Hobby Lobby store in Oak Ridge, and workers have been seen at the site in the past few weeks. Construction fencing was up around the new store, which will be at the former Kroger on South Illinois Avenue, as early as May 28.

On Friday, Bob Miller, Hobby Lobby communications coordinator, said plans show a store of 62,800 square feet. Miller said he does not have a projected opening date at this time.

The new store was announced in April.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Hobby Lobby Renovations at Kroger June 15 2016 2

Construction work was scheduled to start this month on the new Hobby Lobby store at the former Kroger on South Illinois Avenue, and workers are pictured above at the site of the new Hobby Lobby store on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]

Hobby Lobby opening in Oak Ridge

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Hobby Lobby has signed a lease at the former Kroger store on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, the company said Thursday, April 14, 2016. The company plans to start renovating the property around the beginning of June. The store is projected to open in September. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Hobby Lobby has signed a lease at the former Kroger store in Oak Ridge, the company said Thursday.

The company plans to start renovating the property around the beginning of June. The store is projected to open in September.

Hobby Lobby expects to hire 35 to 50 employees with full-time employees earning at least $15.35 and part-time employees earning at least $10.23 an hour.

“Hobby Lobby is constantly looking for locations to better serve our customers, and this location in Oak Ridge seems to fit the bill,” said Bob Miller, Hobby Lobby communications coordinator.”We look forward to getting the store up and running and being a part of the community. Including the Oak Ridge location, Hobby Lobby plans to open 50 stores this year.” [Read more…]