Arts and crafts chain to open stores in Modesto, Merced

The Hobby Lobby has announced the opening of two new stores in the Central Valley.

The national arts and crafts chain has signed leases on the former Mervyn’s building on McHenry Avenue in Modesto and the old Gottschalks site on West Olive Avenue in Merced.

The two Central Valley stores are among four the company will open in California later this year. The other Southern California sites are in Temecula and Rancho Cucamonga.

The retailer sells a large range of items including floral, fabric, frames, needlework, arts, craft and scrapbooking supplies. No dates opening dates have been given yet for either the Modesto or Merced location.

Both stores will hire between 35 to 40 employees. Starting pay will be $12 per hour for full-time and $8.50 an hour for part-time employees.

The 61,600-square-foot Mervyn’s space has been empty since the chain went out of business in December 2008. The Gottschalks building in Merced closed in June 2009 when the retailer folded.

The openings comes a retailers are slowly returning to the area after a long recession that saw scores of storefronts go empty and a continued high unemployment rate. In May, Dick’s Sporting Goods moved into the former Circuit City at the corner of Sisk and Dale roads in Modesto. Along McHenry Avenue, Ross Dress for Less, Golden Corral, Sunflower Farmers Market and Sketchers are among several new stores coming to the busy Modesto shopping artery.

“The success of our first store in Visalia is a good indicator that California has many vibrant crafting communities that are currently underserved. We are very pleased to provide Californians the quality, selection and value we offer in the crafts and home décor market while filling that void,” said John Schumacher, assistant vice president of advertising, in a written statement. “Quality retail, new jobs, and the revitalization of these empty facilities enables us to become an integral part of these communities.”

Based out of Oklahoma City, the Hobby Lobby had its grand opening for its first California location in Visalia in January. The company has has 486 stores in 40 states.

Hiring has not started yet, though information on openings is available online at www.hobbylobby.com/careers. More information is available at www.hobbylobby.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hobbylobby.

Bee staff writer Marijke Rowland can be reached at mrowland@modbee.com or (209)578-2284.