Hobby Lobby — Local services in Perrysburg

"Is fealty required to shop at Hobby Lobby?"

This morning, August 20, 2022, I shopped at the store at 10019 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg, Ohio. The time of transaction on the receipt was 10:27 AM. The cashier, I imagine, was named "Jennifer A.," as that is the only name on the receipt.

My original complaint was the music. I was in a hurry, and only wanted two specific items.

Ambience matters. The music that played as I shopped can only be described as a dirge, a kind of tortured lament for the dead. Before, I would've said I honestly like shopping at Hobby Lobby, because the place is full of possibility. But with that dirge blasting ghastly mournful noise, it shoved away all the possibilities, and shoved me to a dark dead end. I only wanted to leave the store as quickly as possible.

Think this is trivial?

Ambience matters. I used to shop at a couple of the local comic book shops. (Before you dismiss me as only "a comic geek," I should say I also read big-boy books, too: I'm currently working my way through The Destructionists, by The Washington Post's Dana Milbank, so please don't worry about my mental acuity!) For some reason, these comic book shops were always tuned to the local conservative talk radio station, and it's not fun seeking out that escapist fantasy in a dingy dusty store as an enraged madman is hovering over you, beating into you How The World Should Be. As soon as other options--digital books and online shopping--came to the fore, I dropped the local comic book shops like a bad date. I don't think I've been in a comic book store in ten years.

While any business might have a right to play the music or ranting its owners might want, it might be also be a good idea to be as generally inviting as possible.

So, when it was my turn in line came, and Jennifer asked how I was doing, I told her directly: it sounds like a funeral in the store today.

Jennifer didn't like my answer. She chided me: this is religious music, and that if I had been in a church I would know that it was religious music, and she went on and on for a couple of moments in an effort to belittle me. After Jennifer's rant, the dirge didn't matter anymore.

Instead, I told her the truth: "I am an atheist, ma'am."

Jennifer's rejoinder and defense: "Well, this is Hobby Lobby." As if that statement somehow explained all. It sure sounds like Jennifer really didn't think that I belonged there. Like I'm subhuman or something.

I asked, "Is fealty required to shop at Hobby Lobby?"

Jennifer was stumped for a moment. "What is that?" She asked.

I spelled "fealty," and then told Jennifer that the word was a synonym for "loyalty." I admit I oversimplified a bit: the Cambridge Dictionary site has a good concise definition: "loyalty, especially to a king or queen."

I think Jennifer realized the waters were becoming a bit too deep. She finished the transaction with a terse "have a good Saturday." She never answered my question. I wonder if I should have tried to pin her. But I think Jennifer pinned herself well enough.

Now about that "Well, this is Hobby Lobby:"

Is Jennifer acting as a representative and gatekeeper of Hobby Lobby?

Does Jennifer believe that Hobby Lobby should only be frequented by Christians only?

Is the water fountain in the back, "Christians Only?" Are the restrooms?

Well, this is Hobby Lobby, and I guess that my very existence scares the blank out of poor Jennifer so much, that I'll leave Jennifer and company to their dreary joyless culture-safe ambience, and I'm gonna choose a brighter kind of ambience, because ambience matters, and life is already too short, and I don't want to have listen to another angry person tell me either I'm Not One Of Them, or How The...

I was extremely disappointed in this store. I’ve visited on numerous occasions and never had a problem. Tonight, I found the item I needed, in the frame department, but there wasn’t enough on the shelf. So I went to look for help! The framer was helping another customer so I waited patiently for my turn. 20 mins later, while still helping the other customer, I was acknowledged. I asked it they had more of the item I needed and was told everything they had was out. No problem, I asked if they could tell me if another location had said item. The employee told me they could and pointed to another employee saying she could help me. The new employee was deep in conversation with what I believe was her mother, so again I waited. 25 mins after I first began my search the second employee finally asked she could help. I explained my situation, asking if she could find it in a different store. She said no, not this late. Now, I do realize by this point they were closing in 15 minutes, but I wasted a half hour trying to get help! Needless to say, I left, empty handed! I went to Michael’s, across the street. Found my item, cheaper. And they were willing to call another store to find more, which they are holding for pickup. Save yourself...

I was in the store yesterday and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I waited patiently in line as the checkouts were busy. Then I had a lady wave me over “you just have a purchase?” “Yes”. … that was the last thing she said to me as she rang up my items. Meanwhile she and two others (1 I’m assuming was a supervisor of sorts as she was allowing people off registers) spoke poorly about a couple with children who had just left the store. One child was having a tantrum is is normal as children learn to deal with emotions. The parents felt very well with it- no yelling and no giving in. However, the ladies preceded to say how they should have taken her out and that they didn’t want to hear that. This went on for longer than it needed to as I unfortunately had a lot of items that I was purchasing for my son’s birthday. When she finally gave me a total I simply paid and left- but as I reached my car I realized that my son would not be welcome there as I allow him to express all his feelings to me so that I can help him learn to understand them. I think I’ll be returning my purchases and that will be the last time I go...