Does Hobby Lobby Discriminate?

Last year I wrote an entire blog about bigotry.  It is my belief that any person or group who believes they are better than any other group of people – including race, religion and gender – are bigots.   Anyone who looks down upon any group of people is a bigot and lacks intelligence. 

I’ve read in a variety of places on the internet that Hobby Lobby’s owners discriminate against Jews.  From what I have read, it is not totally clear whether this is true or not. 

The story began when a customer at a Hobby Lobby store in Marlboro, N.J., was supposedly told by a sales clerk that "We don't cater to you people," when she asked if the store would be stocking any Hanukkah merchandise.  The store apparently already had a large stock of Christmas items available. 

Ken Berwitz, a Jewish resident of Marlboro, N.J. followed up with Hobby Lobby's corporate headquarters and was told that the chain does not carry Hanukkah or Passover items "Because Mr. Green is the owner of the company, he's a Christian, and those are his values," he claims he was told.

When asked about the situation by Entrepreneur.com today, a Hobby Lobby spokesperson said,  

“Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. is currently working with our buyers over our merchandise selection. Due to multiple customer requests, we are currently evaluating our Holiday items and what we will carry in the future.” 

Before reading this last quote, I was thinking that since everything I’d read was hearsay, perhaps it was not true.  However, Marlboro, N.J. has a large Jewish population.  I have difficulty believing that inquiries about Jewish holiday items began only recently.  

My local Wal Mart carries no Chanukah or Passover items.  I’ve lived here for 18 years, and they never have carried them.  However, very few Jews live in the area.  I can understand that with limited shelf space, they cannot carry items that likely would have very low sales. 

Is it Hobby Lobby’s choice whether or not to stock Passover and Hanukkah items?  Absolutely!  I can even understand that in areas where there are few Jews, they may not want to carry them.  However, in the Marlboro, N.J. community, there are many Jews who would likely purchase these items. 

So, yes, it is Hobby Lobby’s choice what merchandise they offer in their stores.  It is also my choice to never shop at their stores.

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