Hobby Lobby Expands Jersey Shore Footprint to Brick

ByMaya Harborlight

Craft enthusiasts in Ocean County will soon have a new destination as Hobby Lobby prepares to open its doors in Brick Township, filling a prominent retail vacancy along the Route 70 corridor. The national arts and crafts retailer has signed a lease for the 50,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by Christmas Tree Shops, marking its first location in Ocean County and continuing its expansion throughout the Jersey Shore region.

The store will be located in the Marketplace at Brick shopping center, where the former Christmas Tree Shops operated until closing in August 2023, according to Patch. This development represents the latest in a series of retail changes reshaping the township’s commercial landscape.

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Filling a Major Retail Vacancy

The new Hobby Lobby location will occupy a significant retail space that has seen temporary tenants since Christmas Tree Shops closed its doors. Most recently, the building housed Spirit Halloween during the 2024 fall season before transitioning to Spirit Christmas for the winter holidays as part of that company’s experimental seasonal concept.

Edgewood Properties, which manages the Marketplace at Brick, confirmed the lease agreement through their updated leasing plan dated February 7. The commercial real estate document shows Hobby Lobby occupying the entire 50,000-square-foot anchor space, according to the Asbury Park Press.

While an opening date has not been announced, and representatives from both Edgewood Properties and Hobby Lobby did not respond to requests for comment, the retailer’s arrival appears to be moving forward as indicated in official leasing materials.

Expanding Jersey Shore Presence

The Brick Township location will become Hobby Lobby’s 18th store in New Jersey and adds to the company’s growing footprint along the Jersey Shore. The retailer already operates three stores in neighboring Monmouth County, located in Howell, Holmdel, and Neptune, WPST reports.

Additionally, the company has announced plans to open another location in Freehold, further solidifying its presence in the central New Jersey region. The expansion comes as Hobby Lobby continues its national growth strategy, which has seen the Oklahoma-based retailer open approximately 35-50 new stores annually in recent years.

Part of Broader Retail Transformation

Hobby Lobby’s arrival in Brick is part of a larger transformation underway in the township’s retail environment. The Shops at Brick, another shopping center along Route 70, is currently undergoing facade renovations as new ownership actively seeks to attract additional tenants to the complex.

Local sources also indicate that Raising Cane’s, the popular Louisiana-based chicken finger restaurant chain, may be preparing to establish a location in Brick, though official confirmation of those plans remains pending.

The introduction of Hobby Lobby appears to align with community preferences, as township officials have indicated it was among the most requested retailers to fill the vacant Christmas Tree Shops space. The store’s product mix includes arts and crafts supplies, fabric, home decor, seasonal merchandise, and various DIY project materials.

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Regional Economic Impact

New Hobby Lobby locations typically employ 35-50 people, with starting wages for full-time employees currently at $18.50 per hour, according to the company’s corporate website. The store’s opening will help offset job losses from Christmas Tree Shops’ closure while potentially driving additional foot traffic to neighboring businesses within the Marketplace at Brick.

The retailer joins other national chains that have recently entered or expanded in Ocean County, reflecting ongoing consumer demand despite the challenging retail environment that has caused other storefronts to close. Hobby Lobby’s decision to invest in Brick Township signals confidence in the area’s economic vitality and retail potential.

For crafters and home decor enthusiasts in Ocean County, the new store will eliminate the need to travel to Monmouth County locations, providing more convenient access to Hobby Lobby’s extensive inventory of approximately 70,000 items across more than a dozen departments.

Local officials and neighboring businesses are hopeful that the prominent retailer will help revitalize the shopping center, which has experienced varying occupancy rates since losing its anchor tenant in 2023.

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