Hobby Lobby Opens New Jacksonville Store, Boosting Local Convenience

Hobby Lobby hosted a soft opening on Friday, December 26, 2025, at 1964 W. Morton Ave in Jacksonville, with the store scheduled to fully open on Monday and operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The national craft retailer is the second business to move into the building that formerly housed Shopko, and it occupies roughly 49,000 square feet next to discount retailer Marshalls.

The store signed a 10 year renewable lease to occupy the space. The larger property, owned by Marx Commercial Development Co., still has about 35,000 square feet available for lease. Shopko closed all of its locations in June 2019, leaving substantial empty retail inventory in many communities. Repurposing a large portion of that building restores taxable activity and brings shoppers back to a corridor that has been dormant for several years.

Local shoppers said the new store will save time and travel. Penny Lovekamp of Arenzville said, "I love it being here. It's going to be so much more convenient. I would go to the one in Springfield quite a lot." Lovekamp added that the closer location will make outings with her granddaughter easier, though she worried about the toll on her budget. "I'm afraid she's going to want to go all the time," she said. "And I just retired, so I'm looking for a hobby and stuff to do."

Families who visited during the soft opening described immediate appeal for children and crafters. Danielle Booth shopped with her daughters Emily, 9, and Hailey, 7, and said her children had been looking forward to the store. "They've been waiting for this store to open," she said. "We don't have to go to Springfield anymore. They love going shopping with their grandmother, who is actually on her way up here." The Booth children found merchandise ranging from paintable figurines to Squishmallows, prompting Danielle Booth to limit purchases to two to four items to manage her spending. "I will have to set more limits each time," she said.

For Morgan County the reopening of a large retail footprint signals a modest local economic lift. The new store will likely increase foot traffic for adjacent retailers and generate sales tax receipts from purchases that previously occurred in Springfield or online. With 35,000 square feet still available in the building, local officials and property managers will be watching whether additional tenants follow, further altering shopping patterns and commercial vacancy rates in Jacksonville.