Hobby Lobby has a huge loyal fan base in Pensacola, and the posts involving their potential closure and, later, the false alarm topped our posts for the week.
1 and 2. HOBBY LOBBY SCARE
Cushman & Wakefield arranged the $7 million sale of a shopping center located at 6235 N. Davis Highway, where Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million are tenants. We received the news alert, which also said the buyer, Destiny Worship Center, plans to convert the center into a church. According to the press announcement, Books-A-Million will either shutter its store altogether or reduce its footprint at the center. Read more.
That night, I received an email from Rob Bell. Hobby Lobby has a long-term lease and has no plans to close. Read more.
3. Daily Outtakes: PNJ embarrassed by Haas Center study
The recent University of West Florida Haas Center study of OLF-8 must embarrass the Pensacola News Journal, the paper’s monthly columnist, Theresa Blackwell and consultant DPZ CoDesign. The study found that developing 46 of the 271 acres set aside for light industrial use would generate an economic impact of $1.3 billion over five years for the local economy, local tax revenue of $10.8 million, 1,550 direct, indirect and induced jobs, and $445.5 million in total personal income. Read more.
4. Daily Outtakes: Salzman cash machine keeps spending
State Rep. Michelle Salzman loves to fly first-class and stay in five-star resorts to various GOP events nationwide. Apparently, her supporters and lobbyists don’t mind footing the bills.
Against an underfunded opponent, Salzman and her PAC have spent about $575K. Read more.
5. DeSantis appoints two NWFL county clerks. Sigh, not Escambia County’s
The title alone get readers’ attention. Humor still exists in Pensacola. Read more.