As drivers exited their cars in the packed parking lot of University Plaza Friday morning in Christiana, they almost exclusively proceeded to the sliding doors of Hobby Lobby.
Inside, they found a checkout line with dozens of carts stretching in each direction. Freshly stocked shelves had already started taking hits with signs throughout the store showing 40% and 50% off sales.
“Everybody has been waiting for this,” said store manager Mike Trotta.
More than 15 months after word of New Castle County’s first Hobby Lobby broke, the store finally opened at 9 a.m. Friday. The company previously said it would open in January. About 75 to 100 people eagerly waited outside before the opening bell and hundreds continued to stream in from Route 273 the rest of the morning.
It’s the national arts and crafts retailer’s second Delaware store. The first opened on Route 13 in Dover in 2020.
That’s where Trotta started two years ago and rose to the level of co-store manager. He said the store’s loyal following including customers from upstate, who regularly asked when Hobby Lobby would be expanding.
“It’s really about serving the community,” Trotta said.
Hobby Lobby ended up taking a portion of the former Burlington store in University Plaza, which is also home to an Acme and Harbor Freight Tools. Burlington moved down a spot last year, taking about half its former space and clearing room for Hobby Lobby.
The Hobby Lobby layout
To the right of the entrance is the store’s seasonal section, which featured Easter decorations and spring toys Friday. Further right along the side wall, were housewares, outdoor gear and furniture and baskets and pillows.
Craft supplies make up the bulk of the back wall starting from the back right corner and terminating at a custom framing station in the back left corner (when considered from the entrance). The section had a deep well of items to decorate (wood shapes, tree houses, t-shirts and glass jars to name a few) and things to decorate with (stickers, stamps and paints).
From the framing station in the back left corner working back toward the entrance along the side wall are collections of rugs and door mats and yarn, fabrics and prints. Flowers, garland and wreaths fill the front left area of the store near the checkout lines.
The middle of the store is a maze of wall decor. There’s no shortage of signs with honest-for-laughs sayings like “Takeout is my favorite recipe” and “Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy.”
Working at Hobby Lobby
Trotta declined to share how many people are employed at the Christiana store and how many more they are seeking.
He said people interested in working at Hobby Lobby can fill out a paper application in the store. There’s a shelf with applications just inside the front door. Trotta said all employees pitch in on a variety of tasks.
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Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon.
