Hobby Lobby — Local services in Tucson

I can't tell you how many times i've been asked about my hobbies. Job applications, random barflys, women I date who think i'm rich. And how many times have you heard someone say "you need to get a hobby"? I don't think i've ever heard anyone say that to me, but evidently it's a thing. I do sit back and think about my own hobbies from time to time. Thinking about what makes me happy and what makes me tick, but it always comes back to going to the gym and not engaging with anyone at all, watching obscure youtube videos about foreign cinema and writing business reviews for businesses I greatly admire and respect. But I figured its best to pad the resume with some hobbies in case anything lucrative comes along anyway.

But who has time to sit down and think about what might interest them? Too much in this day of hustle and bustle! So like a good American, I turn to consumerism for all the answers. And I saw that there was a Hobby Lobby close to me, so I thought I might go get the juices flowin with some visual stimuli. I'm a wannabe hobbyist and you're telling me there's an ENTIRE store or at least a lobby based on hobbies? Sign me up, bucko!

So when I walked into the Hobby Lobby on Broadway, I was immediately and pleasantly assaulted with some scent that can only be described as Disney branded wood and potpourri from 1995. What a blessing. I didn't even know where to begin, so I started perusing the bright aisles waiting for something to find me. Art easels, ribbons and decor, hanging fake tree branches wrapped in plastic, embroidery pillows, wood framed wall mirrors etc etc. I was wondering where the hobbies were because it felt like I walked into the prop room for a Hallmark movie. I figured there would be some old men playing chess, some teenagers learning how to play Pickleball or even a Florida man showing people how to shoot a compound bow. Heck, I would have taken a deaf stamp collector.

But none of that. That's okay though. I'm sure there will be something to tickle all of my fancies. And finally I walked into an aisle that was labeled "soap making supplies".

Being a HUGE Fight Club fan, I went 'bingo'. I want my new hobby to be soap making because A) Fight Club is rad B) It's unique even if slightly feminine C) I would override the feminine aspect with sheer masculine elements and scents like gunpowder, whiskey, beard hair, Clint Eastwoods saliva, chunks of steak, Playboy articles from 1965 and existential self loathing. D) Ladies would respond "no way, you're way too cool to be making soap" and it would give me ample opportunities to be pretentious and explain how its humbling and gratifying and increase my opportunities for laying pipe as another hobby.

Anyway, I went to the register and paid the 60 odd dollars for the assortment of things like bentonite clay and volcanic pumice powder. I figured like in the movie, i'd have to source some fat from somewhere, but i'll cross that bridge when the time comes. The nice lady at the register did ask "oh, getting into some soap making are we?" and I just replied "I not allowed talk about it" with my sunglasses on hoping she would get the Fight Club reference. She did not get the reference and I think she felt bad for me. Or concerned. Either way, I walked back to my truck with a new hobby in hand and a whole new world of soapy possibilities. Thanks Hobby...

(11/12/2025 3:31p.m) Sadly there is nasty gossip going around town about me calling me a trans/gay/racist/hater when I am none of these things. Apparently the gossip had made it here at this location. A Latina woman with long blue hair called me a "man" as I was leaving. This explains all the previous toxic harassment bad behavior by enployees here. At least my elderly mother enjoys her new variety of yarns for her Christmas projects. Special thanks for Deborah M. for being a professional cashier. (07/9/2025 2:01p.m.) They did the same thing to me as last time (read previous review below). A store employee named Jesse K. pulled me aside to ring me up at a separate register only to test my cash payment. Ugh...he didn't even smile or be talkative. Nobody else had issues today with my cash payments. Not my bank atm, the local grocery store, the pet store...nobody else. I am a Christian too and after reading other bad reviews, at this location, certain employees taunt/harass folks especially management/LP. Next time they try to isolate me I'll give a very distinct "NO". They are the only local store who sells 925 sterling earring hooks (see pictures below). Nothing else here is a necessity even if a bought a few extra items today. They already had "Merry Christmas" items out. Talk about pushy.

If you prefer to pay cash for most of your purchases, instead of card, be prepared to get scrutinized. I have shopped here for a few years and never had an issue when I paid until yesterday. I was specifically pulled out of the line of many people to be moved to another register.

The employee was cordial, when ringing up my items. Although, she was very busy talking to her ear peice/security. She looked at my bill above her head in the light, then used a blue light, and then called over an associate to look at it and take the bill to a different regester to get change. Odd. They acted a bit nervous, although smiling, when talking with me.

Openly treating someone like a possible criminal for paying in cash is wrong. People have a right to their privacy and thanks to all the card fraud (I have been a victim in the past), and with the abundance of sketchy employees working with customers in society I'm more careful with how I pay for items.

At least next time please explain to a customer WHY you are checking their cash as to not making them feel as isolated and...

Hobby Lobby. One of the most dangerous places in the world for me to live too close to. Always having deals on everything. I am constantly coming up with excuses and rational explanations as to why I must go here all the time. They have amazing prices, great selections on everything and I have never once, been made to feel anything but welcome in their stores. Not gonna lie right now but a lot of other stores in town who have religious owners like that chicken place and the hallmark store on Wilmot, are places I generally avoid because at one point or another I had visited and they made me feel awful for being myself. To give you an idea, today I may douse myself in glitter and rainbow everything. Last week when I went to HL I was wearing a fox tail and a pair of ears. Not once did any associates or even customers, no one gave me a dirty look or glared at me. If anything I may have gotten looks of amusement and or questioning looks. These I am so good at responding to. Usually I catch they're curious looks and wink at them or say, "we must keep life interesting, no?" And they seem to be charmed. Admittedly, other places where I didn't have such great experiences, well it was quite a few years ago when I was there and I'm sure I wasn't as good with my charm then so I may just reconsider my stance and perhaps try them again. But HL has always treated me well no matter how I dressed. Also, between you and me? They have phenomenal prices on badass gifts for kids. I just bought this amazing experiments gift that centers on explosives for my nephew that was only 20 some dollars and he was so stoked to try them with his dad! The only gift that topped that was a laptop but I mean...it was a laptop for a 10 year old, right? Highly recommend, especially if you have time to kill because you will get caught up in ideas on new projects and might even have to be nudged, gently, by your boyfriend towards the registers to get out from under...