Harbor Freight Tools announced this morning it is opening a store in Maricopa by the end of the year.

The reason? Maricopa has just what the company is looking for, Harbor Freight spokesperson Donna Walker told InMaricopa this afternoon. 

The Calabasas, Calif.-based hardware retailer will begin selling power tools, generators, jacks and plenty more at under-market prices near John Wayne Parkway and Edison Road in December. 

Harbor Freight will take over the former 99 Cents Only store, a 15,000-square-foot retail space that is half the size of the garden center alone at the Home Depot store opening in Maricopa in two weeks. 

But bigger isn’t always better, Walker explained. The Edison Road storefront is about the same size as any other Harbor Freight out there. 

“A size like that means it’s easier to browse,” Walker said. “[People] can find what they need and get out to their jobsite faster.” 

The location was a mix of everything the company wanted, she said: good visibility, ample parking and the right square footage. The nearest existing location is about 20 miles away in Casa Grande. 

In the eyes of Harbor Freight, Maricopa has “a wide pool of qualified applicants” to join the staff when the store opens. It will hire 25 to 30 people. 

Walker said those interested can apply on Harbor Freight’s website.