Vestar, owners of the Queen Creek Crossing shopping center currently under development, announced that craft superstore Hobby Lobby was set to open on Monday, May 20, but the store surprised everyone and opened on Friday morning, May 17, just in time to kick off a weekend shopping spree for excited Queen Creek residents.
Queen Creek Councilman Jeff Brown posted on his Facebook page Friday morning: "Hobby Lobby NOW OPEN!!!" He took in the highly anticipated opening with fellow members of the Queen Creek Town Council, including Mayor Julia Wheatley and Vice Mayor Leah Martineau on May 17.
With over 1,000 stores nationwide, and more than 22 in Arizona, Hobby Lobby is the largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer in the world and occupies a 55,000-square-foot space within Queen Creek Crossing. The retailers newest location is near the corner of Ellsworth and Rittenhouse roads, at 20004 S. Ellsworth Road in Queen Creek.
“We offer a wide and ever-changing variety of craft and home decor products, including many exclusive Hobby Lobby brands,” said Kelly Black, assistant vice president of advertising for Hobby Lobby. “First-time shoppers will be pleasantly surprised at the store size and the exceptional service provided by our trained associates.”
Hobby Lobby expects this latest location to bring between 30 to 50 jobs to the Town of Queen Creek and its neighboring communities. The company said it is committed to their employees and takes pride in establishing an inspiring work environment that empowers individuals and strengthens their families. Hiring information is available online here.
“We’re excited to see Phase 2 of this center open, especially large employers like Hobby Lobby," said Jeff Axtell, executive vice president of development at Vestar. “We are committed to providing an excellent shopping experience to the Queen Creek community, that starts with opportunities for employees to thrive in a supportive environment, allowing them to provide excellent service.”
With more than 400,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, Queen Creek Crossing is a premier shopping destination, anchored by Costco. Other stores now open include Ashley Furniture, Sleep Number, Advanced Orthodontics, Snip-its Haircuts, Smoothie King, Gallery Nails, Well Groomed Pets, Desert Financial Credit Union and Natural Pediatrix.
The final tenants, including BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, ONO Hawaiian BBQ and The Habit Burger Grill, Fleet Feet Running and Batch Cookies are scheduled to open by the end of this year.
