Hobby Lobby announces plans to build in Hanford
HANFORD, Calif. (KFSN) -- The city of Hanford is seeing an influx of new businesses and now a big box store has announced its plans to revitalize an aging shopping center.
City officials in Hanford are excited that Hobby Lobby will be setting up shop and making more than a $1 million in renovations.
Hanford City Manager Darrel Pyle said, "They're actually going to split the building into two retail spaces. So there will be the remainder portion of about 48,000 square feet that will be ready for a new neighbor for Hobby Lobby."
Officials are thrilled about the development, which adds to a growing list of new retailers coming to Hanford.
Two developers have submitted plans across the street to build separate shopping centers on the southwest corner. Anchor stores have yet to be announced.
Costco has just received final approval to build a brand new store and gas station on the corner of Highway 43 and Lacey Boulevard.
Construction crews are finishing up the construction of a CVS Pharmacy where the old Ford dealership was. Next door, Starbucks is taking over what used to be Long John Silver's.
Pyle added, "We're trying to make sure everybody in the Valley understands that we're ready for business and we're rolling out the red carpet by eliminating red tape."
Hanford business owner Todd Cotta is expanding his company, Kings Gun Center. He has plans to build a 16-lane range training facility in an old warehouse. Cotta says a low sales tax and business-friendly atmosphere makes it easier to be successful.
"No community I think in the Valley is seeing the kind of expansion that Hanford is seeing right now and that's the kind of unique strong community that Hanford has," said Cotta.
And let's not forget jobs. Costco alone will employ 200 people.
Pyle said, "We anticipate 400 jobs in total for that shopping center in total there's probably under/in excess of 800 jobs under construction as we speak."
Construction on the new Hobby Lobby will start by the end of this year.
