Harbor Freight Tools headed to new location in DeKalb

DeKALB – A new tool store is coming to Sycamore Road in DeKalb, according to city officials.

DeKalb city officials wrote in a Tuesday social media post California-based Harbor Freight Tools plans to open a store in the Target Shopping Center on Sycamore Road.

Dan Olson, principal planner for the city, said all that the retailer has done is submit plans to the city so far and those plans are currently under review on the city’s end.

“So they haven’t started work yet,” Olson said, who added the store owner hopes to be open by late spring or early summer 2021.

Olson said he’s not sure of the exact construction and opening timeline for the new store. He said the retailer will demolish the interior of the store space, build new offices and restrooms, upgrade the loading dock and dumpster enclosure, and resurface and restripe the parking lot.

Olson said the building permit is not subject to City Council approval, since it is not a special use within the city’s commercial zoning district. He said the projected cost of the project is $220,000.

“This is good news that there’s a new retailer going into the building,” Olson said.

The new store will fill the space previously occupied by Aldi, which relocated in July 2019 to the Northland Plaza Shopping Center. Olson said the the old location has been shuttered since the Germany-based grocer moved across the street nearly two years ago.

Harbor Freight Tools has more than 1,000 store locations across the country, according to its website. The retailer has stores in 48 states, according to city officials.