Hobby Lobby in 2026: IPO Outlook + Backdoor Routes
No, Hobby Lobby is not publicly traded. If you want exposure, the realistic path is through comparable public retailers like Michaels, Five Below, and Ollie’s — not a direct stock purchase.
Hobby Lobby keeps showing up on investors’ radar because it is big, profitable-looking from the outside, and still completely closed to public shareholders. The chain now says it has more than 1,000 stores, operates in 48 states, and employs about 50,000 people, which makes it feel like the kind of retailer that should have a ticker — but it doesn’t.
Recent company news has been about expansion, not capital markets, with new store openings and relocations continuing into 2025 and 2026. That combination of scale, growth, and private ownership is exactly why retail investors keep asking how to buy in. Here’s what Hobby Lobby actually is, whether it’s public, and the closest ways investors can get exposure instead.
What is Hobby Lobby?
Hobby Lobby is a U.S. arts-and-crafts and home-decor retailer. Its assortment includes home décor, seasonal décor, tableware, floral, art supplies, craft supplies, yarn, fabric, jewelry making, and hobbies. The company says it offers more than 80,000 items, which helps explain why it has become a one-stop shop for DIY, decorating, and seasonal shopping.
The company was founded in 1970 by David and Barbara Green, opened its first 300-square-foot store in Oklahoma City in 1972, and remains headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Hobby Lobby says its corporate campus includes over 12 million square feet of manufacturing, distribution, and office space. It now has more than 1,000 stores, operates in 48 states, and employs approximately 50,000 people.
