I'd never been in a Hobby Lobby store prior to this visit, so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. When I walked in I felt like I was in that scene from ET, where all the scientists and such tented Elliot's house in an effort to study ET. Clear plastic sheeting everywhere!! I don't know whether to say they were thorough about Coronavirus sanitation or just plain nuts!
Anyhow, I ended up at Hobby Lobby because I was looking for a very specific product and, after searching online, they were the only place in the area I could find it AND was open to customers. I was surprised, to a point, because I expected HL to be more like some of their competitors. A bunch of old people picking out yarn and fabrics for some odd, crafty projects. This may just be because of sanitation procedures and social distancing but I found the store hard to navigate. Things were in locations that made no sense. I.e.: I was looking for Ranger Alcohol Ink for a project on copper. Guess where it was... in the aisle with PLASTIC model cars... that's a bit of a stretch!
The aisles were marked with "traffic patterns" throughout the store. One arrow pointed this way, the next was the opposite way and the third was a big 'X' which, I guess, was a closed aisle. Of course, my needs were in a closed space. My stuff was in that area, so I went and got it anyway!
I'm not really letting Coronavirus control my life but I do take precautions because my health can often be a bit precarious. I was disappointed to see that about 1/2 the other customers were prancing around without masks, etc. It was clearly marked in a giant sign, at the entrance, explaining their requirements. However, nobody was enforcing it... so, why have it?!!
Hobby Lobby is not a store I will ever patronize often. My art isn't craft, no fake roses attached to burlap here. They had some of the name brands I like but the prices were ridiculous even compared to ordering online from an art supply and paying for shipping. It's a good place if I find myself in a bind (and the professional art supply stores are still closed). So, make your own call on this one!! read more