CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - On Monday, January 27, community leaders, the Chamber of Commerce and Police Department welcomed National Craft and Home Decor store Hobby Lobby to the Sunrise Marketplace at Birdcage. The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony brought together some 70 attendees, including customers, to celebrate the city’s new retail establishment.

Debora Kinsey, the attending Hobby Lobby corporate representative, was delighted with the crowd which gathered and thanked all who graciously attended, saying, “California has really welcomed Hobby Lobby with open arms. Thank you so much for all you’ve done to help us!”

Sacramento County’s fourth district Supervisor Sue Frost said, “We welcome Hobby Lobby to Citrus Heights. We are glad when someone joins our community because it shows we are developing to our potential. It was not too long ago that Citrus Heights was considered an aging community, but that is changing.”

Frost presented a Proclamation honoring Hobby Lobby stating, “[We] support new businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods… encouraging everyone to shop local.”

The store in Citrus Heights is the 53^rd store that has opened in California as Hobby Lobby continues expanding to include over 850 stores nation-wide. Four other stores will open in January and in total 50 will open nationally this year, adding some 3000 new jobs to the national economy.

Citrus Heights store manager David Olson is from Fair Oaks and has already worked regionally for Hobby Lobby for five years, working at the stores in Sacramento at Delta Shores Circle for two years and the Roseville store for three years. Prior to working with Hobby Lobby, Olson worked for Sprouts Farmers Market for five years.

Olson said that the company hired 60 associates–with 12-15 full-time workers–and will be determining which part-time workers will be suitable for the distinct positions. Workers were contacted through the Employment Development Department (EDD).

“For the past six weeks Hobby Lobby workers have been preparing the store for its grand opening, setting up racks, cash registers, laying out the bases for the aisles and assembling furniture,” said Hobby Lobby associate, Maggie Young.

Present at the grand opening was Larry Lipp who is the property owner of the 7800 Greenback and Birdcage locale. He said, “The building was vacant for only about one and half years after Toys ‘R’ Us shut down. They had been leasing the building since the late 70s. Much of their losses were due to large retailers and online competition from Walmart, Amazon and Target.”

In the retail market, where much of what is consumed is produced and processed entirely by machines, craft stores, such as Hobby Lobby, encourage creativity for do-it-yourself projects and provide uplifting messages to inspire. Merchandize is geared towards consumers who intuitively want to produce their own custom work, do interior decorating and produce artwork, because you never know when a hobby can launch into a new career!

Hobby Lobby is located at 7800 Greenback Lane, Citrus Heights, CA. For more information visit hobbylobby.com