One of Menards’ newest home improvement stores opened in August in Warren, Ohio. Officials announced Tuesday the retailer will build another location at The Highlands in Ohio County.
WHEELING, W.Va. — The Ohio County Development Authority has sealed the deal on a new big-box building materials store at The Highlands.
Authority President Randy Wharton said Tuesday the authority has signed a purchase agreement with Menards, a Wisconsin-based home improvement store, for a 200,000-square-foot facility.
“This will be a very large store,” he said, noting it will be larger than many other home improvement stores.
The store will be located at the far end of the development, south of the Power Center. It will be Menards’ first foray into West Virginia, with the retailer’s closest locations to Wheeling in Massillon, Ohio, and Warren, Ohio.
He said Menards sells all types of home improvement products and tools, but it also offers grocery items, pet supplies, clothing, gift items and more.
“The new store will bring an additional 150 new jobs to the area and we also are hoping it will be a large sales tax generator,” Wharton said.
Menard’s currently employs more than 45,000 people at more than 280 locations in 14 states, mostly in the Midwest.
According to Wharton, county officials are working through the state regulation process for site preparation permits.
“They should begin construction in early spring and be open by the end of next year,” he said.
In other projects at The Highlands, the development authority authorized Wharton and county Administrator Greg Stewart to sign a lease with an undisclosed eatery for a 6,000-square-foot space on the first floor first floor of the AT&T building, formerly occupied by Indigo Joe’s.
The authority also will execute a lease with Blue Racer, an engineering firm that will bring 45 new jobs into an 8,200-square-foot space on the second floor of the AT&T building.
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