Kmart building in Bismarck will soon become Hobby Lobby

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - A Bismarck store known for its blue light specials is transforming into a place for crafters and those with hobbies.

Hobby Lobby is moving from its current location and will occupy the Kmart building sometime in 2026, according to Aspen Group Real Estate.

Opening in October 1971, the Bismarck Kmart was the first business to open north of Interstate 94, playing a major role in the commercial expansion on the north side of Bismarck. It was the city’s second discount department store, after the smaller Tempo in Northbrook Mall.

The discount department store opened eight years before Gateway Mall, nine years before Target and 19 years before Walmart.

Some people in the community have special ties to Kmart. You could even call it a family affair.

“Kmart was my very first job. It was a family, kind of legacy a little bit. I had a couple of cousins, and I had an aunt that worked at Kmart too. So, it was a little bit of a family thing to work there,” said Randy Hoffman, Bismarck native and author of “The Complete History of Bismarck, North Dakota” and “The Bismarck-Mandan Encyclopedia.”

The 104,000-square-foot building was the 456th Kmart in the nation and consisted of a department store, a Penske auto care center, and a Kmart-branded grocery store.

Dan’s Supervalu, now known as Family Fare, took over the grocery section in 1975 until it opened the building where Hobby Lobby stands today, in 1981.

“It’s kind of a full-circle kind of thing where Dan’s moved across the street and built the store that Hobby Lobby is now occupying, and now Hobby Lobby is moving back across the street in the building where Dan’s used to be,” said Hoffman.

After Hobby Lobby moves, Sanford will be taking over its current location.

Kmart closed in 2020 after nearly 50 years in business and has been vacant since, aside from housing two movie productions for “Hazel” and “Medora.”