Thursday, May 6th, 2021
New biz moving in
Tool store coming to former Gordmans building
By William Kincaid
Photo by William Kincaid/The Daily Standard
Some time this summer Harbor Freight Tools is expected to move into the former Gordmans department store building in the Lakewood Village Shopping Center on Havemann Road in Celina.
CELINA - A new tool store is scheduled to open this summer in the Lakewood Village Shopping Center at 1951 Havemann Road and create up to 30 new jobs.
Harbor Freight Tools, a California-based, family-owned affordable tool retailer, on Wednesday announced plans to add a new location at the site of the former Gordmans department store that closed last year.
"I think it's going to be a great fit out in the Havemann Road stretch," mayor Jeff Hazel said, adding the store will offer local consumers another choice for tools and equipment.
Construction is already underway and an official opening date will be announced later, according to a company news release.
"We've been looking to open a location in Celina for a number of years so that we can provide the tools and equipment at tremendous values to the community," said Trey Feiler, senior vice president of real estate and construction for Harbor Freight Tools in the release. "In addition to finding a great location, we were attracted by the availability.
The store aims to create 25 to 30 new jobs, among them sales and logistics supervisors, senior associates, sales associates and seasonal positions, according to the release.
Mercer County Community Development Director Jared Ebbing welcomed the announcement of a new business in Celina.
"I do think it's going to be a great addition," he said. "Any time you can fill an empty space and (see new jobs created), that's a good thing."
His office will attempt to help the retailer fill openings, he said.
"It's getting harder and harder so we'll help them where we can and look forward to their future success," he said.
Harbor Freight Tools is a growing company. It opened its first store in 1980 and today has 1,100 locations across the country, with two new stores opening every week, according to the release.
It employs 23,000 associates and serves 40 million customers.
The 107,817 square-foot Lakewood Village Shopping Center is home to Dunham Sports, Ruler Foods, Hot Head Burritos, Aaron's Inc., Epic Vapes, Cricket Wireless, Manpower and Asia Buffet Mongolian Grill.
