Harbor Freight Tools will be opening a 15,000-square-foot location at the Shillington Plaza Shopping Center in Cumru Township.
Harbor Freight is leasing the space in the former Kmart store at the center. Work has already begun on the location, using local workers and companies from the surrounding area, according to a press release. An opening is expected in late winter 2024.
The new store will be Harbor Freight’s second Berks County location. The retailer has 58 Pennsylvania stores, including one in Chester County, one in Delaware County and three in Montgomery County. The other Berks store is located at 3225 N. 5th St. in Muhlenberg Township.
The company has been looking to open a location in the Cumru area for a number of years, according to Trey Feiler, senior vice president, real estate and construction for Harbor Freight Tools.
“In addition to finding a great location, we were attracted by the availability of great associates … and we look forward to having them join the Harbor Freight team,” Feiler said in a statement.
Harbor Freight said it expects to bring 25 to 30 new jobs to the area, including sales and logistic supervisors, senior associates, sales associates and seasonal opportunities.
The Shillington Plaza Shopping Center was purchased in March 2022 by Ocean State Job Lot, which opened its Berks location in March using about 46,836 square feet of the former Kmart.
At the time Ocean State purchased the center, the company indicated it would be seeking additional tenants for the rest of the vacant space in the store as well as several vacancies in the center, which totals 145,601 square feet.
Additional details about what work needs to be done to get the space ready for opening was not shared by Harbor Freight Tools.
Source: Berkshire mont