Hobby Lobby will open new stores Oct. 10 in Merced, Modesto

Hobby Lobby will open two of its five California locations, Merced and Modesto, Oct. 10 with a ribbon- cutting ceremony and official grand opening celebration Monday.Bruce Busby is the store manager of the Merced store at West Olive Avenue at Austin Avenue.

Local dignitaries, ambassadors from the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, and other business leaders were on hand to help with the store's grand opening ceremony.

"We're very excited to open five new locations in California alone that will provide coverage from the northeast suburbs of Sacramento to the southeastern suburbs of Santa Ana," John Schu- macher, assistant vice president of advertising, said in a news release. "We intend to continue our expansion into California in 2012."

Hobby Lobby Stores started as an outgrowth of Greco Products, a miniature picture frames company founded in a garage by David Green in 1970. Today, Hobby Lobby has 491 stores across the nation that average 55,000 square feet in size. The company offers more than 65,000 crafting and home décor products in its stores.

Departments include floral, fabric, needlework, picture framing, baskets, home accents, arts and crafts, wearable art, jewelry and scrapbooking supplies. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and all Hobby Lobby stores are closed Sundays.