MANSFIELD – Hobby Lobby will relocate from Mansfield to Ontario, possibly in early 2019.
The popular craft chain will move into the former H.H. Gregg building in the Village Square Shopping Center, according to a commercial building plan filed with the Richland County Building Codes Department earlier this year.
Alan Ratliff of the Loral Ontario Property LLC, which owns of the former H.H. Gregg building at 909 N. Lexington-Springmill Rd., confirmed Thursday that Hobby Lobby was leaving its 1200 Park Ave. West location in Mansfield.
He said that there was work currently being done on the space. He estimated the store might open as early as February.
“I’m not exactly sure when they’ll open, but they’re in there working now,” Ratliff said.
A new entryway is expected to be added to the space. According to paperwork filed with the Richland County Building Codes Department, Alicia Foreman of Hobby Lobby requested a zoning permit from the city of Ontario to build a 900 square-foot vestibule (or lobby area). The 12-foot-by-75-foot structure will be added to the existing structure.
Ontario’s zoning inspector was not immediately available for comment, but Mayor Randy Hutchinson explained that the request was not brought in front of the planning commission because there were no variances needed.
“It’s always nice for us to fill a vacant store front,” Hutchinson said.
H.H. Gregg had been located at 909 N. Lexington-Springmill Rd. from July 2008 to April 2017. Ratliff had seen “several people” with interest in the location since then.
Hobby Lobby is currently located in the plaza with Kroger and Crossroads Church.
Calls and emails to Hobby Lobby corporate were not returned at the time of publication.
