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Hobby Lobby to open store in Marshall

Arts-and-crafts chain to fill retail spot at former Kmart building

Photo courtesy of Hobby Lobby Hobby Lobby officials confirmed plans to open a store in the former Kmart building along Highway 23 in Marshall.

MARSHALL — Marshall area residents asked for a Hobby Lobby store and their wish has been granted. Hobby Lobby is set to share retail space with Ashley Furniture in the former Kmart building along Minnesota Highway 23.

“Hobby Lobby officials are excited to bring their store to the Marshall area community,” said Marshall Economic Development Director Tara Onken. “At this time, we can confirm an opening in late summer 2019.”

Hobby Lobby is primarily an arts-and-crafts store, but also includes hobbies, picture framing, jewelry making, fabrics, floral and wedding supplies, cards and party ware, baskets, wearable art, home accents and holiday merchandise.

“We offer a wide and ever-changing variety of craft and home decor products including many exclusive Hobby Lobby brands,” said Kelly Black, Hobby Lobby advertising director. “First-time shoppers will be pleasantly surprised at the store size and the exceptional service provided by our trained associates.”

Hobby Lobby will share the space with Ashley Furniture which is still preparing its retail space.

“It will have roughly half of the space,” Onken said. “The building is 90,000 square feet.”

Onken has been working with Hobby Lobby for some time now.

“They are a major store,” she said. “They don’t take where they are opening their next store lightly. They do their homework. The stars have to align for everything to be just right.”

Last year there was a retail survey asking Marshall residents what stores they would like to see come to Marshall. Onken said Hobby Lobby was high up on the list.

“It was the top response, so I’m thrilled that it’s coming,” she said.

The store opening is still in the planning stages, and more announcements will be shared later this spring, Onken said.

“They currently have 16 stores in Minnesota and over 800 nationwide,” she said. “I think it complements our current business offerings very well. It will keep people in town, and attract people to Marshall where maybe right now they are making a trip to Sioux Falls or another location.”

Onken said the former Kmart store is a prime location.

“It has high visibility and people driving through town will see it and stop there to shop,” she said.

Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson agrees.

“The confirmation of Hobby Lobby coming to Marshall is reinforcement that Marshall continues to be a regional retail center and we look forward to Hobby Lobby’s investment in our community,” she said. “Retail sales overall in Marshall are growing in a positive direction and Hobby Lobby will add to that growth. We are excited for them, our city and the region.”

Hobby Lobby is the largest privately owned arts-and-crafts retailer in the world with approximately 32,000 employees and operating in 47 states, according to its website, hobbylobby.com. Corporate headquarters include a 9.2 million-square-foot manufacturing, distribution, and office complex in Oklahoma City.

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