After years of silence at the Route 6 Mall, construction is bringing renewed energy to Honesdale’s retail corridor. Hobby Lobby is moving into the former Kmart building at 650 Old Willow Avenue, a space that’s sat vacant since 2018. Once a central draw for shoppers in Wayne County, the Kmart closure left behind a cavernous void that signaled a broader retail slowdown. Now, that quiet corner of the shopping center is undergoing a major transformation.
The familiar orange Hobby Lobby signage has already appeared on the building’s facade, and interior renovations are progressing steadily. While an official opening date has yet to be announced, the visible activity signals a strong step forward for a shopping center that has seen its share of ups and downs in recent years.
Location: A Tucked-Away Hub Just Off the Highway
The Route 6 Mall is located just off U.S. Route 6, nestled along Old Willow Avenue in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Though it’s surrounded by natural wooded areas and bordered by the Lackawaxen River, the center remains part of a highly active retail zone. Across the road, national names like Walmart, Home Depot, and McDonald’s anchor a busy stretch of highway, while local restaurants such as Two Guys From Italy serve a steady stream of customers.
The mall itself has changed very little in layout over the past few decades. Aerial imagery from as far back as 1995 shows the same basic structure in place—a long strip of stores with a large parking lot and a prominent anchor spot once occupied by Big Kmart. Despite years of decline following Kmart’s closure, the space remained structurally intact and ready for reuse, setting the stage for this latest redevelopment.
Company History: From Homegrown Frames to National Chain
Hobby Lobby’s journey began in 1972 when David Green opened a small picture frame shop in Oklahoma City. From those modest beginnings, the company expanded into a full-fledged arts and crafts chain. Over the decades, it grew to become one of the largest privately-owned retail businesses in the United States, with over 1,000 locations spread across the country.
The company is known for filling large retail footprints, often choosing to redevelop former big-box locations left behind by struggling or defunct chains. Sites previously occupied by Sears, Toys “R” Us, and Kmart have all been converted into Hobby Lobby stores in recent years. Honesdale fits that pattern. By repurposing an existing building instead of starting from scratch, Hobby Lobby continues its approach of revitalizing underused spaces while expanding into smaller communities and mid-sized markets.
Last Updated on March 26, 2025 by F. E. Mufute