Trail’s Home Hardware is celebrating an extensive store renovation with a grand re-opening this Saturday.
Over the last year, the store has undergone a $300,000 upgrade, which includes an overhaul to its storefront and a new fireplace department along with a revamped paint department and expanded lumberyard.
“We are trying to keep up with the times and keep up with what the public wants,” said store manager Tim Harding.
The Trail location is privately owned by Jennifer McCallan and Patti Smith, who also own stores in Duncan, Whitehorse and Wetaskiwin, Alta.
The cost of the renovations is half covered by the corporate company, which still owns the Trail building.
The 18,000 square-foot retail space has not had a major upgrade in its 18 years of business.
“We needed to update the store, make it more inviting to our customers, make it easier to shop,” said Harding. “I think we were due and the timing was right and we pretty much have a new store down here.”
New metal cladding and signage marks the exterior of the store, which is aiming for a real “park setting display” that includes a crooked play house for kids.
“When you look at it, you think that guy was off his rocker when he built it,” laughed Harding. “You got to look at it a few times to really see it. It’s really been an attention getter – the kids are just loving it.”
Along with some of the 30 building centre’s staffers, the grand opening will have 40 vendors on hand to demonstrate their products – ranging from kitchen cabinet and fireplaces to power tools and windows.
“We really want to help the public out and let them know that there is support all around for them and that we’re all here to help their homes become a better places to live,” said Harding.
The celebration from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. will include over $10,000 in prizes and draws and many other in-store specials, along with a charity barbeque for cystic fibrosis.
“It kind of really hits home for us, our old manager here who retired last April lost her daughter to cystic fibrosis.”