Posted: 3/26/03

Home Depot now open in FL

After a busy winter of interior remodeling, The Home Depot is now open in Forest Lake.

The worldís leading home improvement retailer made it official with a 6 p.m. store opening on Wednesday, March 26. Regular hours begin today (Thursday) and a flag-raising ceremony led by veterans from American Legion Post 225 will highlight the first full day of business at 11 a.m.

The new store is at 1943 W. Broadway Ave. The Home Depot is expected to employ some 100 people, the majority of whom are from the Forest Lake area.

The 95,000-square-foot is housed in the former K-mart location west of I-35. The store will stock more than 40,000 different kinds of building materials, home improvements and lawn and garden products.

These products are sold to do-it-yourselfers, as well as home improvement, construction and building maintenance professionals.

Special services are available for professional customers, such as commercial credit programs and on-site delivery. Known for its high level of customer service, Home Depot also holds free do-it-yourself clinics.

ìWe are extremely excited about opening in such a fantastic community as Forest Lake,î said Mike Strzelecki, Forest Lake Home Depot store manager.

ìThere is a strong need for a home improvement retailer that provides outstanding service and value in this area. Weíre pleased to be part of this dynamic region.î

The store will feature a professionally-staffed center that offers free in-store consulting for many home improvement projects ranging from computer-assisted designs for kitchens and bathrooms to carpeting and lighting.

Hours for the Home Depot will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 to 6 on Sunday.

The companyís progressive corporate culture includes a philanthropic budget of more than $25 million, which is directed back to the communities Home Depot serves and the interest of its associates through its Matching Gift Program.

The companyís major focuses are affordable housing, at-risk youth and the environment.

Team Depot, an organized volunteer force, was developed in 1992 to encourage volunteer activities within the storesí local communities.

During its opening this week, Home Depot will present a $500 donation to the Forest Lake Area Youth Service Bureau and a $500 donation to Community Helping Hand.

Founded in 1978, The Home Depot is the worldís largest home improvement speciality retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States, with fiscal 2002 sales of $58.2 billion.

The Atlanta-based company employs approximately 300,000 associates and has more than 1500 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, seven Canadian provinces and Mexico.

Home Depot stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:HD) and is included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Standard & Poorís 500 Index.

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