Harbor Freight to join Westgate

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz announced Friday that a discount tool retailer is to locate at Westgate Shopping Center on West Market Street. According to a release, Visconsi Companies Ltd. announced Harbor Freight Tools is to open a 15,000-square-foot facility and join Peebles, Kroger, Pat Catan's and 15 other merchants at Westgate. A grand opening for the store is expected this summer. "We're thrilled to be opening our 34th Harbor Freight Tools store in Ohio and very pleased by the warm welcome we've received in Tiffin," Eric Smidt, president of Harbor Freight Tools, stated in the release. "At Harbor Freight, we're all about delivering high-quality tools at ridiculously low prices. We do it by manufacturing our tools at the same factories as the expensive brands, but we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to our customers." Smidt stated in the release the company has invested millions of dollars to operate its own test labs to ensure quality. "We invite everyone in the Tiffin area to visit our new store and see why if you buy tools anywhere else, you're throwing your money away," he stated. The store is to be located at 682 W. Market St. Harbor Freight Tools has more than 900 stores nationwide and also offers online sales. The company stocks more than 7,000 items including automotive, air and power tools, shop equipment and hand tools. Montz said the company's choice of Tiffin is another example proving the success of the local economy. "Harbor Freight Tools choosing to locate in Tiffin adds another retail options for residents to shop locally," he said. "I am confident that additional retail will soon follow as the Tiffin market remains very robust." Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. Development Manager Bryce Riggs said the announcement is just one of many good pieces of news related to development on West Market Street. "We've seen several large announcements on the West Market Street corridor in the past months, including Panda Express and Kiku Fusion Sushi and Steakhouse," he said. "The announcement of another high-quality national retailer, Harbor Freight Tools, choosing to locate their store in Tiffin continues the momentum and we look forward to welcoming them to our community." For more information, visit harborfreight.com.