Major retailer on way to town

City official announces Hobby Lobby, STERIS plans

Hobby Lobby is coming to Mentor.

That was announced by City Manager Ken Filipiak during his annual State of the City address Feb. 27.

Although his message was packed with information about good things going on in the city, the giant retailer news drew the biggest response — mostly from females in the audience at the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce event, at NOAH’S Event Venue on Norton Parkway.

About a year ago, a News-Herald poll asked readers which retailers they would most like to see in town. Hobby Lobby and Trader Joe’s were the top responses from the more than 250 people who posted comments on

Facebook. There are more than 30 Hobby Lobby stores in Ohio, the nearest in Macedonia.

The Office Max site near Great Lakes Mall is the target area for the 55,000-square-foot arts, crafts and home decor store. The building is to be razed before the year’s end, Filipiak said. The city will be working with Office Max to find a new location in the meantime, he added.

No construction timeline was available, and a formal plan has yet to be submitted to the city.

The site is owned by Washington Prime Group, which has been reinvesting heavily in the mall property. An attempt to reach a Hobby Lobby representative was unsuccessful. A Washington Prime spokeswoman declined to comment at this time.

Filipiak also revealed STERIS Corporation’s plans to continue expansion in the community. He provided a sneak peek at a two-story addition planned to the company’s administration building.

He noted that it would be enough space to accommodate up to 200 employees, though company officials have yet to confirm job creation from the project.

Other highlights from the address include:

• Plans to establish an agreement with Beacon Health to provide mental health counseling services alongside the police department’s

Hostage Negotiating Team during critical incidents

• Participation with Mentor Schools’ Strategic Plan Safety Committee on a “Not in Our House” program empowering students to educate others on opioid addiction

• Collaborating with Cleveland Clinic on a threeday, world-class EMS simulation lab

• Foreclosures are down — 112 in 2017 versus 303 five years ago

• $114 million in construction permits issued last year

• A 4.1 percent vacancy rate out of 7 million square feet of retail space

• Record high $42.2 million in income tax revenue in 2017

• $8 million in road improvements planned in 2018

• $1.8 million Two Town Stream Enhancement project to lower flood plain elevation by 4 feet, benefiting 800 acres of residential property

• Recreation programs drew more than 116,000 attendees combined (including day camps and special events)

• $7 million investment planned in Springbrook Gardens Park, including 2 miles of trails, multipurpose athletic fields, restrooms, pavilions, additional parking, a tree nursery and basketball court

• Partnering with Cleveland Orchestra toward long-term goal of a performance in Mentor Civic Amphitheater

• Begin planning a largescale arts show for 2019.

BETSY SCOTT — THE NEWS-HERALD This is to be the Mentor home of Hobby Lobby, according to City Manager Ken Filipiak, who made the announcement during his annual State of the City address Feb. 28.