Just up the hill from Hobby Lobby toward Princeton Road, construction workers are moving dirt for another project.
A new office building is being built near Frisch’s restaurant, according to Julie Vonderhaar, Fairfield Twp.’s interim administrator.
That property, developed by Professional Resource Development, will house Heartland Dental, and another tenant to be determined, she said.
The township had previously tried to bring a Quaker Steak and Lube restaurant to that area, but that project was put on hold due to rising construction costs, according to the project's developer.
The “major investment” of Hobby Lobby to the area will spur more development, according to Ken Geis, an economic development consultant hired by the township to generate more tax revenue.
“Activity breeds activity,” he said. “And you can see with all this activity going on, this is just a continuum of development that’s occurring in this region. Fairfield is open for business, they’re continuing to do a lot of positive things, and this is a prime example where a local community partners with the private sector to make this happen.”
Other developments planned for the area include a storage business and a McDonald's restaurant. The storage business is currently under construction, but no opening date has been set, according to township trustee Shannon Hartkemeyer.
The status of the McDonald’s project is unknown, Hartkemeyer said.
Anchor Properties, based in Covington, Ky., developed 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,” Matt Grever of Anchor Properties told the Journal-News earlier this year. “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 new craft retailer that opened Monday has between 30 and 50 employees, said company spokesman Zack Higbee.
Employees from the former Hamilton store were able to relocate to the new store, he said.
Hobby Lobby has nearly 700 stores across the nation, offering more than 70,000 crafting and home decor products in its stores, according to the company.
Vicki Price was one of that store’s customers who was at the Fairfield Twp. opening.
“I’m not really happy I have to do the extra drive. It’s added about 15 minutes to my usual,” she said.
However, resident Michele Potter said, “I like that they’re closer than the one in Hamilton. My daughter is getting married, and they have a lot of good stuff we can’t get … it’s one of the only hobby stores around.”
Monica Hall and her husband, Michael, were shopping at the former Hobby Lobby location Saturday said she was thrilled the store was moving.
“I’m happy about that because it’s closer to our house,” she said. “We are from Trenton and we usually go to Bridgewater.”
Linda Habel, who was lugging a basket full of Halloween decorations, said it will be an inconvenience for her because she lives near Oxford, but she’ll make the trek to Bridgewater.
“Walmart doesn’t have what you need or Meijer when it comes to other things,” she said. “I do knit and all that stuff.”
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. All Hobby Lobby stores are closed on Sundays.
Staff Writer Denise Callahan contributed to this report.
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