We’ve heard it countless times, “North Platte needs a Hobby Lobby.”

Soon, wishful thinkers may see their shopping dreams become reality.

Hobby Lobby has signed a letter of intent to build a store in North Platte.

However, don’t get too excited.  Developers and city leaders say there are still a lot of pieces of the puzzle that must come together before the deal is final.  On the top of that list is funding and a building site.

Hobby Lobby stores are a chain of retail arts and crafts stores based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and were formally called Hobby Lobby Creative Centers.  The stores are wholly owned by the corporation and not a franchise chain.

Residents of North Platte are extremely excited about the potential new business citing job creation, less trips to Kearney and, quite simply, a great place to by crafty goods.

Officials say Hobby Lobby could potentially be ready for business by the Fall of 2015…if everything goes as planned.

Hobby Lobby currently has Nebraska locations in Grand Island, Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk, Omaha and Papillion.