New Harbor Freight Tools bringing 25-30 jobs

A California-based company is opening a location in Middletown and is expected to bring 25-30 jobs to the community, the company said.

Harbor Freight Tools will open a store this summer at 4794 Roosevelt Blvd. in the former Big Lots location.

The company said in a release that construction has begun, using local workers and companies from the Middletown area.

“We’ve been looking to open a location in Middletown for a number of years so that we can provide the tools and equipment at tremendous values to the community,” Trey Feiler, senior vice president, real estate and construction for Harbor Freight Tools, said in a statement.

In addition to finding a “great location,” Feiler said the company was “attracted by the availability of great associates” in the Middletown area. The jobs will include sales and logistic supervisors, senior associates, sales associates and seasonal opportunities.

The company has more than 1,300 stores across the country, 24,000 associates and more than 40 million customers.

Harbor Freight Tools this year will introduce more than 800 new tools and accessories, the company said. Harbor Freight Tools is one of the nation’s fastest growing retailers, opening two stores every week.

Forbes Magazine recently recognized Harbor Freight as one of the top 20 large employers in all of retail, one of the top employers in terms of diversity, a top employer for women, and one of the country’s Best Employers for Veterans for two years in a row.