WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — A national tool store is locating to the former K-Mart building in Washington Court House.
The Guardian learned exclusively that Harbor Freight, who has stores in Chillicothe and Hillsboro has signed a lease to locate at 2100 Columbus Avenue.
The building is the site of a former K-Mart, which has sat vacant since 2001. The 90,000 square foot building partially houses a Family Farm and Home in 20,000 square feet, and now, the tool store will occupy another 18,000 square feet.
Records show 40,000 square feet will remain empty, but sources close to development for the city said that “letters of intent” have been signed by another national retailer to lease that portion. The announcement of who and when for that part of the building is expected in a few weeks.
In addition to the former K-Mart building, a small office building sits along the street. Once housing a salon and the BMV, it’s now home to an insurance office. Multiple offices in the building have sat empty for years, but “letters of intent” have also been signed to have that space leased by a third business. The name of that business was not released, but details are expected within a few weeks.
Pennmark Management out of Philadelphia bought the property after K-Mart closed in 2001. The company has strived to develop the lot since. An additional six acres of land sits at the site, and sources say, the undeveloped land will see medical offices in the near future.