Ithaca Builds

Mapping, photos and information for Ithaca construction and development projects

Hobby Lobby Paving & Sign Done

October 31, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

The sign is up, paving complete, lights are on- and yes, there are three Christmas trees in the front entry already. If the store hours and opening day are correct, this store opens November 11th, Veteran’s Day at 9am.

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Hobby Lobby replaces the Old K-Mart, which was closed October 2011.

Hobby Lobby Repaving, Front Facade & Prep for Sign

October 29, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Here are some dusty shots taken today from the Hobby Lobby store site opening November 11th in the former K-Mart shell. In addition to the 56,444 square foot store, the property owner/developer Benderson Development is seeking a 14,744 square foot expansion along the southern wall (where the K-Mart garden center was previously) for a retail tenant- perhaps a store that commonly pairs-up with Hobby Lobby. Many major retailers partner-up with another complementary store in strip malls, creating clusters of complementary goods in the same area to boost sales- like a salon and a cafĂ©, or a sports pub and a women’s clothing store for example; you can’t do both of those activities in the same store, but they would go together.
From the looks of it, the front facade is basically done, re-paving and striping has been well underway, and will probably be finished this week. The sign was in a trailer on site already, and the store was filled with retail racks.

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Hobby Lobby Big Box Taking Shape

October 21, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Hobby Lobby’s entrance and front facade are taking shape, with contractors on site every day to prepare the store for its November 11th opening. Looking at it now, it’s actually quite amazing how fast this work is getting done, but that’s what large commercial contracting crews are good at. Automatic doors are in, lighting has been up for a few weeks- we should expect trucks unloading merchandising racks soon, then boxes of goods. Oh, and a big orange sign too.

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Hobby Lobby’s Big Entrance Bay

October 7, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

As the work goes on inside the old Kmart to outfit the upcoming 56,444 square foot Hobby Lobby store for a November 11th opening, the large entrance bay is being constructed to prop-up the sign for drivers to see from Route 13. I had wondered last time around what the steel beams were for, and I suppose this is it.

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Hobby Lobby Work Continues, Entryway Demolition

September 5, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

The wall section has been demoed for the new entryway, along with the paving and a significant amount of soil out front. There’s a series of beams sitting on the parking lot outside the gates; I’d imagine the smaller ones may be for supporting the new entryway, but I’m not sure about the others.

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Benderson Development Seeking a Retail Expansion

August 20, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Benderson Development is proposing a 14,744 SF retail expansion next door to where Hobby Lobby is going in (adjacent to Staples). The existing parking lot would stay just about the same, albeit some curb refitting, and there has been no disclosure of a prospective tenant. The previous semi-structure there before was the garden center for K-Mart, which closed back in 2011.

Hobby Lobby, Old K-Mart

August 12, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

To follow-up on the previous mystery here, this is becoming a Hobby Lobby by November of this year. It’s a sort of craft store like Michael’s or AC Moore, and had its beginnings in Oklahoma. I doubt if it will take-up the amount of space that K-Mart once occupied, but the build-out looks to be consuming a significant portion of this pad that has sat vacant for several years now.

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Maguire Idle, Old K-Mart Activity

July 30, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

No signs of building yet for the Maguire Fiat dealership, but I suppose this is where you go to purchase a Dodge Ram.

 
Just a stone’s throw away, in the empty stretch of asphalt next door, something must be in the works here at the old shell for K-Mart, which closed in October 2011. I haven’t a clue what exactly..