The Home Depot opening ‘looks like a real deal’

After much speculation as to when and who will be the first “big box” home improvement store in Maricopa, The Home Depot versus Lowe’s debate may be coming to an end.

The Home Depot is expected to open at The Wells at Maricopa, the retail center on the northwest corner of Porter Road and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, which will also be home to Wal-Mart. The Wells at Maricopa is a 64-acre project by Shea Properties, which will have 560,000 square feet of retail space.

“We just started the deal to build this store, and we are still waiting for corporate approval which can take several months,” according to Lindsey Chapman, regional communications manager for The Home Depot. “However, this looks like a real deal.”

Chapman said it would take less than a year to build the store and estimated a first quarter 2009 opening.

Among those interested in The Home Depot’s plans is Tom Bechtel, co-owner of Maricopa Ace Hardware.

Bechtel, who opened his store on North John Wayne Parwkay in October 2006, is confident that Ace Hardware’s customer service, quick shopping and wide range of goods will ensure the store’s success even with the new competition.

“It’s definitely going to have an impact, there’s no doubt about that,” Bechtel admitted. “We will survive and flourish in the long run.”