Harbor Freight has busy opening

ALBANY — For a soft store opening, Harbor Freight Manager Diane Stover was a blur of motion on Wednesday as she greeted and assisted customers and attended to other duties of a new store in its first week in business.

The tool and fix-it supplies store opened its doors at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will have a big blowout grand opening on July 3.

“We’re excited to be a part of the community, opening up and expanding the brand here,” Stover said as she finally got a chance to stand still for a couple of minutes. “It’s great to be able to add this store to Albany.”

Previously, Harbor Freight customers had to shop online or travel to Tifton or even Warner Robins, she said, so now there is a more convenient location for people who want to pick something up in a hurry or for those out and about doing other things.

People think of the retailer as a tool store, and those were prominently on display at the new Albany store, located at 2525 Dawson Road in part of the old Kmart building. But Harbor Freight offers a great deal more, Stover said. That includes air compressors, craft and woodworking supplies, mechanic’s equipment and truck trailers for hauling equipment around.

The 2,100-square-foot store, which employs 32 people, was able to get a jump on staffing with the assistance and services of Albany Technical College for things like facilities for employee training.

“We were able to give some of the students the opportunity for employment,” Stover said.

With the arrival of a store that appeals to women coming to the shopping center in the near future, Stover said she sees an opportunity for more options for area shoppers. Men can head in to check out the tool store while women shop at Big Lots, she joked.

“Big Lots is going to be opening soon (in the same shopping center), which will be good for both of us,” she said.

Harbor Freight is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Sasser resident Henry Lewis, who spoke with an Albany Herald reporter as he was putting his purchases into his pickup truck on Wednesday, said he was satisfied with his shopping experience at Harbor Freight.

“I just came in to check it out and see what they have in there,” said Lewis, who brought two other men with him. “They have some pretty good stuff in there. I bought screwdrivers and joined the Inside Track Club (store loyalty program).”

The prices are good, Lewis said, and he will be back.

“They were really nice to you; the assistant manager was, too,” he said, referring to Stover.