AS Hobby Lobby sets out to open its first ever location in an iconic Northeastern city, local shoppers are already up in arms.
The new Hobby Lobby, slated to open in New York City, has already prompted pushback and boycott threats due to ideological clashes.
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Hobby Lobby, the largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer globally, is opening its first Manhattan store in the TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City.
The retailer is taking over a 75,000 square foot space formerly occupied by a Bed Bath & Beyond and Barnes & Noble.
Expected to open this spring at 270 Greenwich Street, Hobby Lobby’s impending arrival has already sparked much controversy among locals.
TriBeCa is known for its liberal politics, while the owners of the arts and crafts chain, David and Barbara Green, are vocal about their conservative Christian beliefs.
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Their faith has trickled down into the culture of the retailer, which has stated that its guiding principle is “honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with biblical principles.”
Hobby Lobby stores are closed on Sunday and sell Christian-themed products.
The arts and crafts store has also previously been associated with organizations that oppose gay and transgender rights.
The privately-owned company even faced accusations of discrimination and homophobia, particularly regarding a lawsuit in 2014.
This case involved the company’s refusal to provide contraception coverage for its employees, who argued the decision was based on the owners’ religious beliefs.
The chain’s past has prompted protests from local TriBeCa groups and forums as well as unrest among locals.
Heide Fasnacht, an artist who has lived and worked in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood for 50 years, felt “angry” about the arrival of a company that advocates the evangelical Protestant beliefs of its founder, she told The New York Times.
“I moved to New York to get away from things like that,” said Fasnacht, who called for a boycott of the new Hobby Lobby.
TriBeCa local Madeline Lanciani, the owner of a pastry shop a few blocks from the new store, also shared her resistance to support the conservative company.
“I will gladly go out of my way to shop somewhere else,” she told the outlet.
“I will gladly go out of my way to shop somewhere else.”
Madeline Lanciani
The U.S. Sun reached out to Hobby Lobby for comment but did not immediately hear back.
STRINGS AND STRUGGLES
Hobby Lobby operates roughly 30 stores in New York state, including one in the Staten Island borough.
The company operates around 1,040 stores across the US, raking in $8 billion in revenue in 2024 and opening 37 new locations.
As Hobby Lobby continues to expand its revenue and store footprint, its competitors have struggled in the wake of the post-pandemic decline in arts and crafts supply sales.
For example, after over 80 years in business, Joann announced in February its plans to shutter its roughly 800 locations as part of its going out of business process.
Meanwhile, arts and crafts retailer Michaels has similarly faced challenges in adapting to shifting consumer trends and increased competition.
It was acquired in 2021 in a $5 billion deal aimed at revitalizing the company and supporting its long-term growth strategies.
While visits to Joann and Michaels dropped over 5% and 9%, respectively, from 2019 to 2024, Hobby Lobby saw a nearly 17% rise during the same period, per data from Placer.ai.
As Hobby Lobby expands its reach, the chain has set out to open its fifth location in the same state.
The company, however, has also faced much criticism from shoppers – one was left raging after a payment policy forced her to abandon her cart after a one-hour shopping trip.