Four years in the making, the new Home Hardware store in Haliburton is nearly ready to open its doors.
Walker’s Home Hardware is hosting a preview night May 6, with the store open for shoppers the next morning.
The new location on County Road 21 is 16,000 square feet on a four-and-a-half acre property, with increased parking, more floor space and a garden and outdoor centre.
Co-owner Dale Walker said the community support for the development has been overwhelming.
“We get 50 questions a day but it’s all good,” Walker said. “They’re looking forward to an improved shopping experience, better parking. We’re looking for better efficiencies in our work, more products to offer the customers.”
The development had its challenges, Walker said.
The first phase of the project began in 2017 but hit a year-long snag with the county over a requirement to build a left-turn lane, which the two sides ultimately settled by splitting the costs.
“With any commercial building, there’s challenges, so we’ve worked through them,” Walker said. “We like to think we’re on the home stretch.”
New store manager Brian Nelson says it has been hectic getting the new store ready for customers.
“It’s a big transition. The team is going from an older building with a lot of challenges to a big, bright, modern building,” Nelson said. “It’s very exciting and we want to satisfy the customer. Ultimately, that’s the goal.”
To help do that, Home Hardware is hosting a preview night, which will offer the public a chance to wine-and-dine inside the new building.
Tickets are $20 for the non-shopping event, with all funds raised going toward the Haliburton Highlands Heath Services Foundation.
“We wanted to do that to support the hospital,” Walker said. “Without asking for them to buy something. We hope there will be a great crowd and they’ll come out and enjoy the evening.”
The preview night begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Walker’s Home Hardware and the Haliburton Highlands Health Services office.
