(Feb 18 2008) - Lowe’s opens with commercial event :
Post News Articles : Post Editor -
Porterville’s new home improvement store opened with a full parking lot.
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Opening day for Lowe’s is still a month away but today they gave the commercial construction businesses the first shot at what the public will have on March 20th.
Store manager, Mike LeQuieu says he’s been putting in a lot of time - this last week - to get the store ready for this commercial opening. They call it a commercial opening because they wanted to give their first discounts – 10% - to the local businesses and construction folks and to everyone else who signed up for a Lowe’s credit card.
Mike LeQuieu, who was trained at the Visalia store, stated that Lowe’s currently employs 125 people and when they get up to full steam, they should have close to 160. And they’re still taking applications.
Come March 20th Lowe’s Official Grand Opening will have just about all the special invites and celebrities a new store like this should have. First on the ticket will be Jimmy Johnson’s number 40 race car and a few folks from the “Home and Ganden” show.
City officials and the local politicians are scheduled to be on hand at this grand opening as well.
Knowing that a lot of the housing industry is slipping into a sagging time-frame, Mr. LeQuieu said that “Lowe’s is about as stable as they come.” Most folks will continue to shop for those bargains as they wait for the economy to make the right adjustments.
“Lowe’s project revenues for 2008 in the Porterville area, Mr. LeQuieu said will range anywhere from 25 to 30 million dollars in the first year.”
As the Post was closing the interview, we discussed the additional construction coming soon to that corner. Rumors have it that a few department stores like ROSS are interested in development and many more restaurants like Carl’s Jr. and El Poyo Loco.
