Harbor Freight Tools plans to open its new store in Middlefield Village this summer, making it the company’s 40th retail outlet in Ohio, said media planner Lisa Hartley.
Harbor Freight Tools plans to open its new store in Middlefield Village this summer, making it the company’s 40th retail outlet in Ohio, said media planner Lisa Hartley.
HFT is a privately held discount tool and equipment retailer, headquartered in Calabasas, Calif., with an employee base of 20,000 and more than 1,000 stores across the U.S., Hartley said in a statement.
Contractors are busy remodeling the former Tractor Supply store at 15411 West High Street to stock a full selection of tools and accessories, including automotive, air and power tools, storage, outdoor power equipment, generators, welding supplies, shop equipment, hand tools and more, Hartley said.
Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich said Tom Grasso, a sales associate for Hanna Commercial Real Estate, arranged the deal and having the store in the village will be a huge benefit for many reasons.
“It’s a destination,” Garlich said, adding many area residents go to HFT stores in Niles, Twinsburg or Youngstown to buy items to help them earn a living, repair their homes and cars, and pursue their hobbies.
“It will bring new customers to the village,” he said.
People from out of town will shop at other stores and buy lunch and gasoline while visiting, Garlich said.
Hartley said the company is hiring full-time and part-time sales and stocking associates, supervisors and managers.
The addition of more jobs benefits the village and its residents, Garlich said, adding he has been talking about filling the 19,000-square-foot store behind Vinny’s Italian Kitchen and Burger King since Tractor Supply moved across West High Street several years ago.
“That’s the last empty space. It’s nice to have everything occupied,” the mayor said. “It sends a good message to investors.”
Hartley said HFT is opening two new stores a week across the country.
“We are expanding rapidly, and hear from customers all around the country that they want stores in their town. Based on the volume of customers in our existing Ohio stores, we believe that Middlefield will be equally successful,” she said.
The family-owned company started in Southern California in 1977, when 17-year-old Eric Smidt began transforming his father’s small phone sales business into a successful mail order company.
That first year, Eric bypassed the resellers and cut deals directly with factories, realizing that if he could buy tools directly for less, he could pass the savings on to the customer. He opened his first store in 1980 and has 40 million customers today, Hartley said.
HFT is still privately owned by Smidt.
To apply for a position with HFT, visit harborfreightjobs.com.
