HobbyTown USA said it is closing its East Park store, its last corporate-owned store.

Hobbytown, based in Lincoln, has had a store at East Park for 28 years, and will stay open there until the end of January, said spokeswoman Mary Friesen.

HobbyTown USA calls itself the the largest nationwide franchise in the hobby industry.

Its South Pointe store formerly was corporate-owned, as well, but an employee bought that franchise, Friesen said 

Economic circumstances did not force the closing, she said.

“The 10,000-square-foot store at South Pointe, it’s so impressive, we can do so much more good having everything out there,” she said. 

The expiration of the store’s lease, combined with the expansion of the HobbyTown USA store at SouthPointe Pavilions, were the main factors, in the decision to close, the company said.

“We felt that we could better serve our customers by consolidating the two locations,” said Bob Wilke, senior vice president, in a statement.  “The SouthPointe store recently moved to a new location and has more space to provide a wider selection of products in addition to in-store events“. The SouthPointe HobbyTown USA is at 3120 Pine Lake Road.

HobbyTown USA specializes in toys; radio-control toy vehicles; trains; slot cars; games; models; puzzles; rockets and kites; science and activity kits; and paints and tools.

Hobbytown said it has 172 stores open or under development in 42 states.

The loss of Hobbytown USA will create another vacancy at East Park. Linens ‘n Things also closed recently.