Hobby Lobby closed its 19 Ohio stores, including three in the Columbus area, on Wednesday evening after the Ohio attorney general demanded it shutter its operations as a non-essential business.

Attorney General Dave Yost sent a cease-and-desist letter to Hobby Lobby, which reopened its doors after previously closing due to Gov. Mike DeWine’s stay-at-home order closing many businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Asked during his daily coronavirus press conference about the chain of craft and fabric stores reopening in Ohio, and whether it is an essential business, DeWine said local health departments have enforcement power to order closures. If a situation endangers others, he said, “we have to take action.”

In a later tweet Wednesday, Yost said he had sent a cease-and-desist letter to Hobby Lobby’s general counsel.

“Hobby Lobby properly closed its stores during Ohio’s stay-home order,” Yost tweeted. “Now they’re open again — what’s changed? Neither the order, nor the seriousness of the health threat, for sure.”

Hobby Lobby properly closed its stores during Ohio’s stay-home order.



Now they’re open again — what’s changed? Neither the order, nor the seriousness of the health threat, for sure.



I sent a cease & desist letter to their general counsel. https://t.co/HVqDhFfhqo

— Dave Yost (@Yost4Ohio) April 1, 2020

Yost later tweeted that Hobby Lobby’s counsel said the craft store chain would be closing stores Wednesday evening.

I received a phone call within the hour from the general counsel of Hobby Lobby, informing us they were closing their stores tonight in Ohio in compliance with our cease-and-desist letter. https://t.co/PLf9iIA8pH

— Dave Yost (@Yost4Ohio) April 1, 2020

People responding to Yost’s tweet said Hudson-based Joann Fabric and Craft Stores, including three in central Ohio, also remain open.

Defenders of the stores say they sell materials needed for homemade masks.

Officials of Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby and Joann did not respond to requests for comment.