CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — The Clarion area will be getting another new store in the near future as Harbor Freight Tools is set to take over the former Peebles/Gordman’s building near the Clarion Mall.

Harbor Freight Tools operates a chain of retail stores, as well as a mail-order and e-commerce business offering a wide range of tools, equipment, and supplies.

Founded in 1977, the company is headquartered in Calabasas, California, and currently employs over 20,000 people in the United States with over 1,000 locations in 48 states. Their closest locations in the local region are in Cranberry, DuBois, and Butler.

Known for offering products that are sourced directly from manufacturers and are all tested in their own quality assurance facility, Harbor Freight has become one of the nation’s leading tool retailers.

Harbor Freight is currently looking to hire a Retail Stocking Manager for the new Clarion store.

More jobs are expected to be listed soon.

(Photo by Dave Cyphert of ProPoint Media Photography)

Prior to Harbor Freight taking over the building, the building was most recently used as a vaccine clinic site, beginning in late January of 2021. Clarion County rented the former Godman’s/Peebles building for $3,000.00 a month and was later reimbursed by COVID-19 grants. Clarion Hospital and the Butler Health System operated the clinic with assistance from Clarion County employees. The vaccination clinic located at the building hosted its last clinic day on June 23.

The last retail store in the building was Gordman’s, which was only in place from September 2020 until May 2021, when its parent company, Stage Stores, Inc., filed for bankruptcy. Prior to Gordman’s, the storefront had been Peebles, another subsidiary of Stage Stores, Inc.

Harbor Freight will join Family Farm & Home, which held its grand opening at the Clarion Mall on Friday, October 29, as Monroe Township’s two newest retailers.

The store is expected to open early next year.

(Photo by Dave Cyphert of ProPoint Media Photography)