By COURIER STAFF May 25, 2021 

SPINDALE — White Oaks Plaza is getting a new tenant — Hobby Lobby.

Vanguard Associates, Inc., the Atlanta-based owner of the White Oaks Plaza shopping center in Spindale, announced Tuesday that it has signed Hobby Lobby to a lease at the property. The arts-and-crafts chain will occupy roughly 55,000-square-feet of space, and is estimated to open in late 2022 or early 2023.

Spindale Retail I, LLC, an affiliate of Vanguard Associates, Inc. acquired White Oaks Plaza in April 2019. Tim O’Neill, president of Vanguard Associates, expressed his excitement about landing the retailer asa new local tenant.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Hobby Lobby to Rutherford County,” O’Neill said. “They are a best in-class retailer, and will be a great fit for this market. In addition, they will be a fantastic complement to the existing tenant mix at White Oaks Plaza, strengthening a current roster that includes Tractor Supply, Big Lots, Dollar Tree, Workout Anytime, and Transit Freight Furniture.”

Vanguard Associates, Inc., and its affiliates own and operate over 30 shopping centers, totaling 3 million-square-feet, throughout the southeastern U.S.

Hobby Lobby, based in Oklahoma City, operates over 900 stores throughout the U.S. in 47 states, and is the largest privately-held arts-and-crafts retailer in the world, with over 43,000 employees.