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Update: Hobby Lobby, Books-A-Million Space Sold; But Real Estate Firm Says They Are Staying
October 29, 2024
A shopping center building with Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million has been sold to a church, but now the church’s real estate firm says the business are not going anywhere soon.
Rob Bell of the Pensacola commercial real estate firm Bellcore Commercial represented Destiny Worship Center in their purchase. He told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday morning that both Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million have leases in place with options to extend. He said the church plans to honor those leases.
Previously, commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield said they arranged the $7 million sad of the shopping center at 6253 North Davis Highway in Pensacola and that it would be converted into a church. The building was constructed by a subsidiary of Walmart in 1987 and later sold for $3.75 million in February 2002.
The Escambia County Property Appraiser’s website confirms the sale, and the deed (pictured below) also confirms the transaction.
Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million are tenants at the property, which was built in 1987 and comprises 103,485 square feet across two tenant spaces. Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million occupy 70,100 and 33,385 square feet at the center, respectively.
NorthEscambia.com reached out to Hobby Lobby Monday to find out if the store might be relocated, or if it will close. We had not received a response from Hobby Lobby by midday Tuesday.
The property was last valued at $6,965,998 by the property appraiser.
Destiny Worship Center, based in Destin, has a top priority of building families, according to their website.
The church has current locations in Destin, Freeport, Crestview, Panama City Beach, Fort Walton Beach, FL, Kenya, and Nicaragua. The church has not directly commented on the sale.
Courtesy photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
59 Responses to “Update: Hobby Lobby, Books-A-Million Space Sold; But Real Estate Firm Says They Are Staying”
WOW the logic…..THIS IS TAXABLE people….jeez
What we’re witnessing is a perversion of the tax code to allow a “church” to engage in real estate speculation for profit. Not whether they pay taxes on X or Y.
It’s just that simple, and the Jesus in the Bible would not agree with this.
This is taxable property while it is being leased. Until a non profit organization is built and owns the property, it is investment property and subject to taxation.
Taxes will be paid and collected. This is investment property to the owner. The activity is rental which is taxable income. Until a church is built and that is the purpose and use on the property, it’s considered investment property and it is taxable.
If a church has enough money to buy part of a shopping center they aren’t a non profit and should be taxed.
Our town needs better infrastructure and more places to shop. Residents are already forced to go to nearby towns or order online for items they’re looking to purchase. We have a growing community with limited resources. These are two large stores that provides jobs to the town’s workforce and resources for growth in individuals. The sales they generate help the local government and community. I hope that when their leases are up, they will either continue to extend them as long as the owners’ allow or relocate to better facilities. It would be ashamed to see them close.
Calm down folks. Re-read for comprehension….
“…….the church’s real estate firm says the business are not going anywhere soon.
Rob Bell of the Pensacola commercial real estate firm Bellcore Commercial represented Destiny Worship Center in their purchase. He told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday morning that both Hobby Lobby and Books-A-Million have leases in place with options to extend. He said the church plans to honor those leases.”
I agree thought that we sure don’t need more churches.
And how many that are critical of another church are actively involved in a church?
Does this mean that the county will lose taxes on this property because churches don’t normally pay taxes
My husband and I both enjoy Books a
Million and Hobby Lobby ! Especially with them being next door to each other !
I am not aware of either store locally !
I am not against churches at all !
I just would like to see an alternative solution considered besides closing or relocating BAM and Hobby Lobby !
Reading is to the mind and Hobbies to your mental health as exercise is to the body !
I do attend a local church , Thanks for listening !
Books a Million and Hobby Lobby stores are two of my favorites to enjoy !
Only ones in Pensacola I know of !
Please do not n close these ! I am not against churches at all , I just think an alternative solution could be considered and worked out , Thanks for listening !
Chris Curtis 10/29/24
Books a Million and Hobby Lobby stores are two of my favorites to enjoy !
Only ones in Pensacola I know of !
Please do not n close these ! I am not against churches at all , I just think an alternative solution could be considered and worked out , Thanks for listening !
Chris Curtis 10/29/24
/24
Very clearly said they aren’t closing the stores. They are honoring the stores leases.
Churches are a drain on the tax base and we have them absolutely anywhere. This church is smart. Bought some high investment real estate, will extend the lease and make large rent money tax free. It is our politicians fault. They allow these mega churches to come in and buy these properties and then make money tax free off of them. The latest scam and all of us taxpayers suffer from this. I doubt they ever really intend to make a church of it, just make profit from their investment.
There isn’t a need for another church. This put people out of work in an already faulted economy. This eliminates property taxes for that property another loss of revenue that could be used for the betterment of the community.
Putting a church in a busy shopping center and around restaurants is the dumbest decision I ever heard of. Church won’t last a few months
Most churches this days are just taking people’s money. In my opinion you don’t have to go to church just to have someone read you scriptures when you can do that in the privacy of your own home. It doesn’t make you any better just because someone goes to church. Most of us work when there are church services. And it doesn’t mean we don’t believe. Taking away business that are profitable is a mistake for Pensacola. Hopefully they will rebuilt elsewhere if not, it’s going to suck! Not a lot of stores around here for crafts and the Michaels here barely have any hobby stuff to do and not fully stocked most of the time.
The LAST thing we need here is another church! They talk about family, but what about the families that BAM and Hobby Lobby support by the people who work there?? BAM provides a safe space for everyone. The church? Not so much.
I think, and i know I’m not alone in this, this is a terrible, crappy move.
I’m sharing this with Books-A-Million. I hope they just move the location and don’t fully close down.
Wow! This is terrible. BAM is a staple book shop in the area.
Pensacola is in more need of cleaning up the city, and beautifying it like it once was. There are too many vacant commercial properties that folded over the years, and are just sitting there as eyesores. Hobby Lobby is a lucrative store, and is well shopped by many people in Pensacola. To shut it down would be a disservice to the community. We already are behind in the times with only having one mall, and not the greatest anchor stores. To shut down Hobby Lobby would be very sad for a lot of the community. I would rather see money going to beautify the community (it has gotten disgusting), and have more anchor stores come in. This location would have been a great place to put a Costco. Another store this community could use.
I believe we have enough churches in the area. Even though Destiny Worship is for “families” i believe we have churches that have the same concept. However, the owner can do what he wishes for the property.
Ive been going to Books a Million for 20 years, since I was a kid, so Im disapointed to see that its gunna get shut down because of a church that already has several campuses. Jesus would be overturning tables if he knew the amount of money his own people wasted on buildings, not even considering the amount of people who will be losing their jobs because of this. Shame on these people and whoever made the sale for getting rid of established business in a city they’re not even from.
I am an artist. I buy my art paint from Hobby Lobby. If they go out of business, I don’t know where I can find the same paint as I am using. I am very sad about this. We have enough churches in this area. As far as going to church, I don’t. But, I don’t need to go to church to pray, worship, or talk to God. I can do that anywhere I’m at.
Is the church going to hire all the people they’re putting out of work? This is not a good thing.
Take an abandoned building and fix it up like Echo church did. This is more about fleecing the flock in my opinion. They want to increase their income flow. Locally based churches have the communities interests at heart.
This is so depressing. I worked at Booksamillion for years. It is a beautiful space to foster knowledge, working, and passing down the love of the written word. Hobby Lobby is a close second. Crafting something with your own hands gives you a sense of enriched gratefulness, and the understanding that you can create your own world. This is so sad.
I agree with Vicki. Hobby lobby is wife’s #1 stiore. The former Bealls in Milton would work out good, esp for hobby lobby as Milton/pace is expanding rapidly
This is really sad. We don’t need anymore churches. I really hope Books-A-Million moves to at least a smaller place so we can still have access to it. Barnes & Noble just doesn’t hit the same as Books-A-Million.
Hate to see either of those stores shut down, it’s all about the $$$$$. I am retired and we use H.L.quite a bit for projects for our church and life. Hopefully Hobby Lobby will find a place close by. We don’t need another “church” or worship center in that area…
I bet Michael’s is jumping for joy since it’s top competitor is closing
Lots of flowery phrasing, but what kind of church are they? Christian, B’hai, Transcendentalist, Pop Culture, or “you-be-you-love-is-love” church?
It’s a shame to see Hobby Lobby disappear. They are a company that isn’t afraid to stand for their beliefs, a company with backbone, refusing to bow to the pressure of trending opposition.
There are plenty of vacant places for a church to move into. Not sure why they are choosing to move into a complex that already houses thriving businesses. For example, the out of business stores in the same complex as Barnes & Noble or the soon to be vacant Dirt Cheap. Just a suggestion though.
We do have enough churches , one on every corner – too many and no taxes paid to the city for any of them as non profit. The city need to be careful how many properties are sold to “non taxable” “non profit” orgainization. This one is huge when you look at the property, location , etc. Owners I’m sure are thrilled at the sale price above appraisal value. But, if you look the amounto of money spend and customer at Hobby Lobby, I hope they realize we as consumers still need them as not too many options , other than Micheals. See the items, costomer options and money spend at Hobby Lobby, hopefully they relocate and save the customer the loss, but also pay taxes for the city and have consumers happy throughout Pensacola area.
Everybody loves Hobby Lobby. Where will it be relocated then? Out of all the abandoned properties that yet another church could have been built, why choose this location? Such nonsense!
Just what the area needs, another church… Bible Belt = Bar, Church, School, Walmart, Church, Starbucks, Church, Bar, Church, Dollar General, Church, Dollar General, Church.
Look at the bright side…..it could have been a car wash…..
The last thing we need is another church in this city. We have enough. What we DONT have enough of are CRAFT stores and BOOK stores.
All you folks feeling sorry for Hobby Lobby and Books a Million. Nothing was stopping these two company’s from buying the building themselves. They chose their fate.
Lol I hope it fails miserably. There are already too many churches. Why use a retail location??? At least HL provided some jobs for ppl.
I really could care less either way, but I just hope this new church will preach the truth and not be a church feed off its paritioneers. Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and leave the show on the road, not in the church house.
OK, I’ll say what every husband in Pensacola is thinking.
Praise thee oh Lord for closing Hobby Lobby! Our wallets rejoice!
Have you every seen the look on mens faces as they follow their wives around Hobby Lobby? Pure defeat.
Please don’t take Hobby Lobby away!!!! Best craft store ever!!!!!
Please don’t take Hobby Lobby away!!!!!!!
Best craft store ever!!!!!
I love the idea of churches. We don’t have enough. if everyone went (just my opinion, no hateful comments needed ). But I do hope Hibby Libby can be relocated. as soon as possible after closing there.I don’t know anyone that doesn’t Love Hobby Lobby!!!
Pensacola has an overload of churches. There’s a smorgasbord of choices for worship. Why not a children’s recreation center offering play areas, dance classes, book reading and quality food. It could be a place where parents and children could enjoy the company of others in the community.
I love books and unique crafts. I can’t say that I spend alot of $$ on either, though. Hopefully, these businesses will relocate for those who do, however. The church is being environmentally responsible. I’m good with plans that don’t destroy more trees here in P’cola!
I am so sad about Hobby Lobby and Books a Million. Hopefully Hobby Lobby finds another place. We have a building in Milton formerly Bealls, hopefully they can go there or maybe what used to be Academy in Davis now Dirt Cheap, heard they are closing. It is sad times when businesses or restaurants close, but even more sad for a thriving business to be forced out of a building. Prayers for a better location
no more churches that pay zero taxes -how many of these progress stoppers do you need!! it will fail and that is good
SHAMEFUL—-we have too many churches paying zero taxes on sites that would bring growth! I hope it fails spectacularly
This is so disappointing. We have more than enough churches.
There are quite a few churches everywhere, and there are quite a few large vacant buildings in the area. I agree about strengthening the families, outreach to the communities, and most important, people do need Jesus. But, this is eliminating jobs. They need to go somewhere else (vacant ones).
Sad sad and disappointing news-Hobby Lobby is a thriving business that provides seasonal decor and supplies to those who may have a side business—and the bookstore was a refreshing touch to the area as well— although I value God’s word-In my opinion, we do not need another church in this area
Ridiculous. There are already too many churches taking up real estate with empty parking lots a majority of the time. People need craft stores and book stores more than they need another church.
I don’t understand why you’d wanna close stores just to put a church there. There’s plenty of vacant buildings they could choose from or better yet build their own. I love these places it would super upsetting to see them close completely.
This is really annoying and disappointing. As if there aren’t enough churches around Pensacola and the Davis Hwy area, this shutters another one of our important stores – a book store, which we already don’t have many of. I hate this.
There are plenty of churches in our area we don’t need one that’s takes away businesses! Leave hobby lobby alone!
We don’t need more churches
I have a church! Leavethe craft store and bookstore where they are.
Because we need another church.