HANOVER TWP., Pa. – A popular business, known for its wide selection of arts and crafts and home decor products, appears poised to expand its footprint in the Lehigh Valley.
The words “Hobby Lobby” are written on a load of steel beams positioned in the parking lot of the Airport Shopping Center in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
In recent weeks, construction has been taking place at the rear of the center adjacent to a former Christmas Tree Shops location.
Construction is underway on an addition to the Airport Shopping Center in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
On Monday, an on-site member of the construction team informed 69 News that an addition is being built for a new Hobby Lobby store, set to take over the former Christmas Tree Shops spot, but a general time frame for the store’s debut is unclear.
Also on Monday, a manager at the Trexlertown location of Hobby Lobby told 69 News that a new Hobby Lobby store is coming to the Airport Shopping Center, but a target opening date has not yet been determined.
Additionally, a now-expired job posting for a co-manager position at a Hobby Lobby store at 916 Airport Center Road in Allentown can still be viewed online.
Hobby Lobby is headquartered in Oklahoma City, and a corporate representative did not return a message seeking official comment on the Airport Shopping Center location.
Hobby Lobby has more than 1,000 stores across the country, with each store offering over 80,000 crafting and home decor products including floral, fabric, needle art, custom framing, baskets, home accents, kitchen and bath items, wearable art, jewelry making pieces, arts and crafts, scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies, hobby supplies, wedding supplies, party supplies and seasonal merchandise, according to a company profile.
Regular store hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
A Hobby Lobby store operates on Hamilton Boulevard in the Trexlertown section of Upper Macungie Township.
In addition to the Trexlertown store, other nearby Hobby Lobby stores operate on Easton Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County; and Route 22 in Pohatcong Township, Warren County.
Hobby Lobby was established more than 50 years ago.
“In 1970, David and Barbara Green took out a $600 loan to begin making miniature picture frames out of their home,” reads a historical account on the business’ website.
“Two years later, the fledgling enterprise opened a 300-square-foot store in Oklahoma City, and Hobby Lobby was born.”
According to Hobby Lobby’s website, the company is committed to “honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles.”
It’s also committed to offering customers “exceptional selection and value”; serving employees and their families through a work environment and company policies that “build character, strengthen individuals, and nurture families”; and “providing a return on the family’s investment, sharing the Lord’s blessings with our employees, and investing in our community.”