Former Christmas Tree Shops location in CT to be turned into popular hobby store

A large retail space that has sat vacant since the former tenant announced bankruptcy last year is slated to become a popular craft store .

The former Christmas Tree Shops, located at 120 Hale Road in Manchester, will become a Hobby Lobby , according to Atlantic Retail , the broker representing the owner of the property. The company’s existing location at 241 Buckland St., will be vacated once it moves to its new location closer to The Shoppes at Buckland Hills . The planned 57,000 square-foot space will be a larger physical footprint for Hobby Lobby than its current location and will offer greater visibility, according to a listing posted from the retail broker.

A Guitar Center is currently located at the back of the property with an additional 10,000-square-feet of space to be leased, according to the listing. The plaza sits adjacent to Interstate 84 and is surrounded by major retailers including Walmart, Best Buy, Total Wine, Hobby Lobby, and P.C Richard & Son.

Christmas Tree Shops filed for bankruptcy in May 2023 and closed all of its stores by August 12, 2023. At its peak, the chain operated 72 stores in 20 U.S. states. In 2003, Christmas Tree Shops was bought up by Bed Bath & Beyond until selling it to Handil Holdings LLC in 2020 for a reported $250 million, according to the Courant . Bed Bath and Beyond filed for bankruptcy in April 2023.

The Manchester building department said no permits have been filed with the town yet.

The Courant reached out to Hobby Lobby but did not hear back in time.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com