Long-Delayed Front Street “Harbor Freight” to Open in November

The Harbor Freight Tools store in the town of Chenango that originally was to open months ago now is expected to start operations this fall.

People working on the renovation work at the future business at 1272 Upper Front Street say the store likely will open in November.

Nasco Home and Flooring Center had operated at the site for more than three decades. The store closed after a Florida-based company acquired the property last year for $675,000.

Harbor Freight had planned to quickly renovate the 16,800-square-foot building and open the new store in a matter of months. But the plans were delayed because the two-acre site sits in the floodplain.

Town of Chenango officials refused to approve the original renovation plan. Eventually, the developers of the site decided to take steps to make the store less vulnerable to future flooding. The town planning board approved the revised approach.

Renovation work finally started last June with the removal of the lower portions of the building's exterior walls.

The company's website had indicated the store was expected to open around September but that target could not be met.

A Harbor Freight news release issued Tuesday said an "official opening date" will be announced. The company said 25 to 30 people will be hired to work in the new store.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.