Hobby Lobby is nearing completion of its brand new New Iberia location, with company officials expecting to bring more jobs to the area. 

The privately held national retail chain of craft and home decor stores is set to open soon, with a projected May opening. 

Construction is underway on the 50,000-square-foot building formerly occupied by K-Mart at the intersection of East Admiral Doyle Drive and South Lewis Street. The chain has 15 stores in Louisiana. 

A Rouse’s Supermarket, also in construction, will be located next to Hobby Lobby.

According to a prepared statement, the New Iberia store will bring about 35 to 50 jobs to the community paying $15.70 per hour for full-time and $10.45 per hour for part-time associates. 

“The success of our stores in Louisiana is a good indicator that New Iberia shoppers will be pleased with the quality, selection and value we offer in the craft and home decor market,” Kelly Black, director of advertising, said in a prepared statement. “New customers and customers already familiar with the Hobby Lobby shopping experience are eagerly anticipating this store opening.”

Hobby Lobby has more than 800 stores across the nation. Each store offers more than 70,000 crafting and home decor products including floral, fabric, needle art, custom framing, baskets, home accents, wearable art, arts and crafts, jewelry making, scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies.

Store hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Hobby Lobby stores are closed on Sunday.

Hobby Lobby Stores began as Greco, a miniature picture frame company in 1970. When David Green moved his business from the family garage to a 300-square-foot retail space in 1972, Hobby Lobby was born.

It is now the nation’s largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer.

For more information about Hobby Lobby, weekly specials, coupon offers, store locations and online shopping, visit hobbylobby.com, download the mobile app or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/hobbylobby.