The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, along with Christiansburg Mayor Mike Barber and Hobby Lobby manger Theresa Molella and employees conduct a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Lisa Bass
Contributing writer
Hobby Lobby officially opened its doors in the old Kmart building off North Franklin and Laurel Streets in Christiansburg on March 26.
Christiansburg Mayor Michael Barber said, “In my 18 years of service to the Town of Christiansburg, citizens have been expressing wishes for 1) a Golden Corral, 2) a Kohl’s and 3) a Hobby Lobby, which all now located in Christiansburg.”
Grateful customers were standing in the cold wind while the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon butting.
Store Manager Theresa Molella expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm of customers waiting that morning and to those customers who had braved the winter storm conditions for its soft-opening on Saturday.
According to the Hobby Lobby website: In 1970, David and Barbara Green took out a $600 loan to begin making miniature picture frames out of their home. Two years later, the fledgling enterprise opened a 300-square-foot store in Oklahoma City, and Hobby Lobby was born.
Today, with more than 800 stores, Hobby Lobby is the largest privately owned arts-and-crafts retailer in the world with approximately 32,000 employees and operating in forty-seven states.
There are only eight Hobby Lobby stores in Virginia. Three stores are located in Richmond, two in Northern Virginia, one in Danville, Harrisonburg and, for now, the Christiansburg’s location is the furthest west in the state. A Hobby Lobby store is scheduled to be open in Bristol soon.
One customer entering was overheard sais, “I took a day off work to be here today.”
Hobby Lobby is flanked by Dollar Tree and a soon to be opened Aldi’s grocery store. Hours are Mondays through Saturdays 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and closed on Sundays.
