Harbor Freight Tools still is months away from announcing an opening date, but its future Enid location in the former Kmart building, 4010 W. Garriott, should be ready some time in spring 2020.
The California-based tool store chain likely will be joining Tractor Supply Co. as a co-tenant in the nearly 350,000-square-foot building, which is being renovated to accommodate three tenants.
Both Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply months ago announced their intention to expand into Enid, but only Harbor Freight said publicly where it would be setting up shop.
“The 15,000-square-foot store will stock a full selection of tools and accessories in categories including automotive, air and power tools, storage, outdoor power equipment, generators, welding supplies, shop equipment, hand tools and more,” Harbor Freight spokeswoman Lisa Hartley said, adding that the company has begun hiring in the area for a number of full- and part-time positions.
Harbor Freight has 20,000 employees at 1,000 stores across the country, Hartley said, and as “one of the nation’s fastest growing retailers,” it opens two new locations every week.
Still privately owned by founder Eric Smidt, the company has “remained true to it’s humble beginnings,” which trace back to first store opened in 1980.
“The stores are clean but simple, designed to be welcoming to a worker right off the jobsite and packed with deals and treasures so every visit discovers a new find,” Hartley said.
Tractor Supply said in July it would be open for business in Enid by early 2020, and while it has not officially announced where that will be, construction permits submitted with the city for renovations to be made to the Kmart building name Tractor Supply.
Additionally, job postings that list the same address are on the company’s website, updated as recently as Dec. 10.
The building’s ownership, TLM Realty in New York, is declining to comment about any tenants at this stage.
While TLM may be keeping quiet for now, it’s clear they’re taking the task of reinvigorating their vacant property seriously, Enid Regional Development Alliance Executive Director Lisa Powell said.
“We can all see they are making a significant investment in the property to redevelop it. They’ve redone the parking lot, they’ve obviously done some interior and exterior remodeling, and all of that is an excellent sign,” Powell said. “We are thrilled to see them reinvesting in that property. It’s at one of the busiest intersections in Northwest Oklahoma, it’s a prime retail location, and that’s what it should be used for.”
Story provided by Enid News & Eagle
Written by: Mitchell Willetts
