Parker said he expects the 55,000-square-foot Fairfield Twp. store to be open by this summer.
Employees of the Hamilton store will be relocated, according to Parker. He did not have any information on the number of new jobs that may be created, or why the company was closing its Hamilton store and relocating.
Anchor Properties, based in Covington, Ky., is developing the new Hobby Lobby site and has overseen other development in that corridor.
“We actually bought a piece of property in Fairfield Twp. back right before the (economic) crash, in 2006 or 2007,” said Matt Grever of Anchor Properties. “We built the Frisch’s and the Firestone and then the economy just went sideways on us and everyone else. Things were kind of on hold.”
The Hobby Lobby store will face Menards and share an access point with Fiehrer Motors. A connecting road will be built from Princeton Road to improve traffic in that area, according to Grever.
“With this completed we’ll have two lots left … good things will lead to better things,” Grever said.
Construction is slated to begin in the next 30 to 45 days, he said.
“I know the residents of Fairfield Twp. right now have to go to the west side of Hamilton or Tri-County,” said Trustee Shannon Hartkemeyer. “This will be a great, convenient location.”
Other development scheduled for that area includes a McDonald's that will be located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Princeton and Gilmore Roads. A storage business, called Gilmore Storage Group LLC, will be located between Menards and Ohio 129. Both are expected to open this year.
Hobby Lobby is a family-owned business based in Oklahoma City, Okla., that has more than 550 locations across the country, according to the company website. It specializes in arts and crafts supplies, picture framing and home decor items, according to its website.
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