Hobby Lobby to open in Duluth in former Kmart building in 2013

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Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. said Wednesday it has finalized an agreement to lease the former Kmart store near the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth and that the store will open early in 2013.

The rapidly growing chain of retail hobby and craft stores said renovations are under way on this 59,800-square-foot building at Mall Drive and Maple Grove Road. Kmart closed its store there in May.

Hobby Lobby officials said Wednesday that they expect to open during the first quarter of 2013, bringing about 35 jobs to the community paying $13 per hour for full-time associates and $9 per hour for part-time associates.

Hobby Lobby, founded in 1972, is the nation’s No. 3-ranked craft and fabric retailer, behind Michaels Stores and Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Besides a wide selection of arts and crafts supplies, fabric, hobby supplies and games, Hobby Lobby also offers home accessories and seasonal items. The Oklahoma City-based chain, founded in 1972, has 503 stores with 29 opening this year and 40 in 2013. While it has many stores in Wisconsin, its only stores in Minnesota are in Rochester and Mankato.

The chain has wanted to expand to Duluth for more than a decade, J. Scott Nelson, the chain’s assistant vice president for real estate, said in a June interview with the News Tribune when the company first announced its expansion here. Coincidentally, the new Duluth Hobby Lobby will be next to the former site of a Michaels store, its biggest competitor. Michaels moved across Highway 53 to the Stone Ridge shopping center several years ago.

Departments in Hobby Lobby stores include floral; fabric; needle art; custom framing; baskets; home accents; wearable art; arts and crafts; and jewelry, scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and all Hobby Lobby stores are closed on Sunday.

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