Opening a store containing thousands of products is no easy task, but Amy and Steve Zwaller are happy about the help they've received.
The Zwallers are in the final stages of opening an Ace Hardware store in Bellingham's Sehome Village Shopping Center, near REI. The store is scheduled to open Tuesday, Aug. 23, just in time to assist college students returning to Western Washington University. Once open, store hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Amy Zwaller said getting the store ready has been a smooth process to this point because they've received plenty of support from the company, which she said is known for helping stores get started while allowing them to be independently owned and operated. They've also received plenty of help from local companies to get the store ready.
"We've been working with as many local companies as possible, and it's been great meeting them, as well as our neighbors," Zwaller said.
In putting together the inventory, the Zwallers talked to college students as well as other Ace stores that are near universities to get a sense of what college students need at apartments and dorm rooms. That includes ready-to-assemble furniture, locks for cell phones and computers and an extensive battery section.
The store, which has nearly 10,000 square feet of retail space, also will have the traditional items including Craftsman tools, two lines of paint, plumbing and houseware products and a 2,500-square-foot outdoor garden area. Zwaller said they will be taking customer requests as they learn more about the needs of the neighborhood.
Finding qualified employees also turned out to be a good experience. The store will have nine employees, including a former plumber, a former electrician, an urban farmer and an employee who has had extensive training in paint and color design.
A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Oct. 21-23. For further details about the store, visit bellinghamacehardware.com.
OTHER TIDBITS
Lothar Taylor is aiming for a mid-September opening for his Jimmy John's gourmet sandwich shop in Bellingham at 1204 Railroad Ave., Suite 102 (next to Baron Communications). The sandwich shop is also in the process of hiring for various positions, so those interested can stop by the Railroad Avenue space for an application.
A fair amount of new permit activity in Bellingham recently: A tenant improvement permit was issued for a nail salon called VIP Nail Spa at 3908 Meridian, Suite 6 (near Cafe Caffe).
• At 311 E. Holly St., a permit was issued to put in Time in Play Cafe, which will include a child and adult area. The address is next door to Saturna Capital, across the street from the YMCA.
• At 2011 Knox Ave., applications were submitted for a three-story, 18-unit apartment building with a parking structure.
• At 141 W. Kellogg Road (in the retail center that has Soccer City), plans are being made to convert a former nail salon space into a children's animation studio.
• An application was submitted to build a new commercial building at 4370 Meridian St., currently home to TD Curran.
