Excitement growing about Hobby Lobby coming to Seneca

Excitement is growing about a new retailer coming to Seneca. It was recently announced that a new anchor would be replacing Kmart in the Applewood Shopping Center on Bypass 123, tells Destination Oconee Manager Janet Hartman. “Hobby Lobby announced they’re going to be taking some of the space from where Kmart was previously.” Little time passed between Kmart’s closing and Hobby Lobby’s opening announcements, says Oconee Economic Alliance Executive Director Richard Blackwell. “I was most excited about it went from Kmart closing and it seemed like it closed on a Friday and Hobby Lobby made the announcement on a Monday. That says a lot about this community that we had vacant space become available and it was quickly absorbed. Again, that says a lot about where Oconee County is going.” Oconee County’s growth was part of the attraction for Hobby Lobby, continues Blackwell. “Hobby Lobby was not in this market but saw an opportunity and saw that this community is growing. They said let me go down there, establish a store, hire new people, and make some money. We’re excited about getting them especially on that side of Seneca, so this will be another good anchor on this side of Highway 123.” Hobby Lobby has more than 750 stores across the nation.