Goodbye Saar's, Hello McLendon
According to a note from the TNT today, the Saar’s Marketplace at North 10th and Pearl will be replaced by a McLendon Hardware store this summer. According to the TNT, the Saar’s location will close in June, while the company’s other stores remain open. The new McLendon location will open this summer after a remodel of the space.
No word on the McLendon website just yet, but a post yesterday on their Facebook page promises an “exciting announcement,” and we’re thinking it’s about Tacoma. (although free tacos and pancakes seem to be popular guesses among McLendon fans).
The western Washington-based hardware store chain has more of that small town feel than some of their bigger competitors, which is nice, if you like that kind of thing. And are we over-reaching to think it seems promising that a local chain of hardware stores wants to put a location just down the street from the Ace Hardware on 30th and Pearl?
Update: We received an email from McLendon Hardware – they have no firm date for opening on Pearl Street, but they’ll keep us informed as they move forward in the process. They’re looking forward to expanding into Tacoma.
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Filed under: tacoma-business
13 comments
J jamie April 18, 2012
Having grown up going to the original McLendon in Renton, I can’t tell you how excited I am about this development.
T tacoma_1 April 18, 2012
This is great news. I love McClendons.
J Justin Camarata April 18, 2012
Yay for McLendon! Have been hoping to see one in this area for awhile.
C Christine April 18, 2012
Not a moment too soon! The home-maintenence/improvement season is just starting up and it is a pain to search for something in the 20 acres of shelving and concrete that is Home Depot. I loved the McLendon’s on Canyon when I lived over that way and I’m excited that it is going to be here.
K Kat April 18, 2012
This is not great news for the people who worked at Saars. It was a union store, that offered good wages, benefits, and working conditions and brought a higher standard of living to the area. Those workers, for the most part, will be out of jobs.
S Scott April 18, 2012
Like Jamie, I grew up in Renton with McLendons being THE hardware store, so I’m stoked!
R Randy April 18, 2012
I’m disappointed. I live in north Tacoma, and this Saar’s location was very convenient and they always seem to have good deals. I don’t really need another hardware store.
F fredo April 18, 2012
We liked shopping at Saars and they had a unique variety of ethnic foods but it will be fun to have a good hardware store there too. When I moved to the North End in the 1980s there was a hardware store in the same building. It was called Pay n Pak. Doubt if too many people remember it.
C cat April 19, 2012
Yeah Pay n pak.. i thought it used to be a hardware store there.. my mom took us there and to the earnst down the street that is the home of the canned food store..or whatever they call it.
C cat April 19, 2012
Although the stores i miss the most in Tacoma are Woolworths and Wigwam Piggly Wiggly and Pay n save.
Man I feel old now
W Weather Weary April 19, 2012
I echo the “yay“s!
I’d much rather go to McLendon than Home Depot or Lowes… come to think of it, why didn’t McLendon take over the vacant Lowes location in South Tacoma?
S Stu April 26, 2012
Another “yay” vote for McLendon’s. Great local chain.
T TRC April 27, 2012
O just what we need another hardware store.
Sarrs had some very interesting foods. BOOOOO !