Sarasota Hobby Lobby To Open In June

Hobby Lobby on Tuesday announced that its new stores in Sarasota and Bradenton are expected to open in June.

Hobby Lobby will replace the former Kmart at 8191 S. Tamiami Trail, with a 56,300-square-foot craft and hobby store. Construciton on the store began earlier this year.

Hobby Lobby is based in Oklahoma City, founded by David Green, and has more than 500 stores in 41 states, and has been expanding recently, including Benderson properties in Bradenton and North Port's Cocoplum Village shops.

The stores carry furniture and vases to clocks, birdhouses and arts and crafts supplies.

The company is also known for its religious views as much as its crafts, with the family owning the world's largest collection of Biblical antiquities and operates Hobby Lobby "in a manner consistent with Biblical principles," according to a press release.

The store will had 35 to 50 jobs to Sarasota, and will pay $13 per hour for full time employees and $9 per hour for part-time employees, according to Hobby Lobby.

Both the Bradenton and Sarasota stores are in Benderson Development-owned centers, with the Bradenton store replacing the Big Lots on Cortez Road West.

“We are very excited to add two new store locations in Florida, and provide the crafting community with quality merchandise, exceptional value, and the widest variety of crafting supplies and home décor merchandise under one roof,” stated John Schumacher, Assistant Vice President of Advertising.

He added, “Adding new jobs and revitalizing empty facilities enables us to share in the economic growth of both communities.”

Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and all Hobby Lobby stores are closed on Sunday.