Nearly seven months after it was announced that Hobby Lobby would be coming to Brownsville, work continues on the inside of the arts and crafts store that is occupying the former Kmart building.
The parking lot has been repaved and new light posts have been erected at the location at 2440 Pablo Kisel Blvd.
“Hobby Lobby interior utility work and construction are underway,” Constanza Miner, the city’s retail and redevelopment manager, said in an email today.
Hobby Lobby, which stocks more than 65,000 items including arts and crafts supplies, fashion fabrics, baskets, silk flowers, party supplies and furniture, is expected to open in either late spring or early summer of this year.
In late August 2020, John Deubler, vice president and general manager of Downtown Management Co. Inc., announced that Hobby Lobby would be coming to Brownsville.
In fact, Deubler said Hobby Lobby had made contact with Downtown Management Co. Inc., about gaining access to the property when Kmart closed, but at that time Downtown Management Co. Inc., did not have control of the property.
Hobby Lobby will occupy 55,000 square feet. About $1.5 million in construction costs and parking lot improvements are being invested in the redevelopment of the property.
The current 100,000-square-foot building, once fully redeveloped, is expected to house two additional tenants.
