The City of Sheboygan announced that Hobby Lobby will be one of the two national retailers in the former Shopko redevelopment project.

Hobby Lobby is committed to occupying 55,000 square feet of the approximately 97,000 square feet of available space and the developer is working out final items to bring the deal together.

Hobby Lobby will occupy the southern portion of the existing vacant storefront at 518 S. Taylor Drive in the City of Sheboygan. Hobby Lobby expects to obtain land use approvals in November and start interior remodeling over the winter season.

The developer continues to negotiate the final lease with the second national retailer and will release the name of that retailer at a later date.

“Over the past five years, the City has worked closely with Hobby Lobby to find a new location in the Sheboygan market. Utilization of the vacant 97,000 square foot department store is a positive for the residents of Sheboygan,” stated Chad Pelishek, director of planning and development. The City is working with the developer on city incentives related to the cost escalations in the project. The developer hopes the cost escalations are just temporary but are having significant impacts on the overall project.

Hobby Lobby occupied space in the former Memorial Mall, 3347 Kohler Memorial Drive. Hobby Lobby closed this store in January of 2016 in anticipation of the redevelopment for the Meijer Stores development.