National Crafts Retailer Plans To Open Waterford Store: Reports

WATERFORD, CT — Craft and hobby retailer Hobby Lobby is planning on opening a new store in Waterford. The national chain has secured a building permit for the site of the former Bob's Stores in Cross Roads Centre, according to Hearst Connecticut Media.

The new store would occupy over 50,000 square feet of space at 167 Waterford Parkway, according to The Connecticut Scoop. The lease on the property and local approvals still need to be finalized.

Hobby Lobby did not respond to a request for comment.

Bob's Stores announced it would be closing all locations and liquidating all inventory as part of Chapter 11 restructuring filing in 2024.

Related: All Connecticut Bob's Stores Closing As Liquidation Announced

Hobby Lobby currently operates six stores in Connecticut in Bristol, East Haven, Milford, Danbury, Manchester, and Norwalk, according to its website.

The company has been around for over five decades and "is the largest privately owned arts-and-crafts retailer in the world with approximately 50,000 employees and operating in forty-eight states," the website reads.