Harbor Freight Tools opened its doors to customers for the first time this morning, drawing a steady stream of people looking for deals on anything from table saws to car jacks. 

For Nick Ayala, from The Villages at Rancho El Dorado, and Steven Weisenbach, from Acacia Crossings, Harbor Freight Tools’ grand opening was a welcome sight. 

“I will come here for the prices,” Ayala said when asked what drew him to the store’s grand opening. 

Weisenbach expressed a similar sentiment. 

“I’ve been to many Harbor Freights, and it’s great to finally see one here,” Weisenbach said. 

The store’s shelves were heavily stocked for the opening and potential customers were checking out the wares. 

General Manager Kevin Miller, who oversees a staff of 32, said he was glad the store finally opened after the intensive work of setting up the store aisles and stocking shelves. 

With Lowe’s Home Improvement now under construction a mile up the road, The Home Depot recently opening and Karsten’s Ace Hardware well established in the community, Miller still said he was unfazed by the competition.

“We don’t really compete with any of those,” Miller said. “We sell a lot broader array of merchandise than they do.” 

Miller said Harbor Freight has been trying “for years” to open a store in Maricopa, and he was pleased it finally happened. 

Asked what the store’s specialty is, Miller said: “Tools for everybody, from the beginner to the professional.” 

With about 16,000 square feet inside, Harbor Freight Tools brings an eye-catching red and blue exterior to Maricopa’s Edison Place shopping center. 

The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.  

The Calabasas, Calif.-based company announced it would be coming to Maricopa Sept. 11. There was then $325,000 worth of renovations done to the former 99 Cents Only store at 44515 W. Edison Road.  

“Our team is ready to serve and deliver value to customers in Maricopa and all of Pinal County,” said Miller. “At Harbor Freight, we recognize that now, more than ever, our customers depend on us for the tools they need to get the job done and at an affordable price.” 

The building was gutted and remodeled to make way for the opening and brings to Maricopa a bright red and blue exterior. 

The location was a mix of everything the company wanted, corporate spokesperson Donna Walker then told InMaricopa. It has good visibility, ample parking and the right square footage, Walker said. 

Photo gallery by Bryan Mordt.