Harbor Freight Tools Opening Store, Bringing Jobs to Murrieta

It can not be described as an Ace Hardware, nor is it like a Home Depot.

Harbor Freight Tools is a family-owned national discount tool store slated to open May 28 in Murrieta, according to Jim Dunaway, regional manager for Harbor Freight’s Western United States stores who also happens to be a 16-year Murrieta resident.

Dunaway has sought to bring the store to the southwest Riverside County area for at least the past year.

“There are a quarter of a million people here,” said Dunaway, who oversees 115 stores as close as Hemet and Escondido and as far away as New Mexico.

The company has signed a lease for a 16,000-square-foot space at 40516 Murrieta Hot Springs, near Sam’s Club.

It will be store number 450 for the company, whereas Escondido was the eighth store opened by the former mail-order-only company that launched in 1977. Hemet was the 15th store.

“We have a very loyal customer base,” Dunaway said. “We’ll be at the Hemet store and a customer from Wildomar will ask when we are opening one out their way.”

As for the Murrieta store, which is scheduled to open with a bang on Memorial Day weekend, Dunaway said it will be larger in size and therefore customers will see more of a selection.

“We are so incredibly unique,” Dunaway said.

Harbor Freight, which manufactures its own products enabling it to charge lower prices, carries everything from automotive supplies to standard tools and tool cabinets to solar panels. There are also toy and camping aisles in each store, he said.

“The quality is what we are really proud of.”

In gearing up for the Murrieta opening, Dunaway said they will be looking to fill 50 positions. Some are full-time managerial positions, while others are part-time floor, warehouse and stockroom jobs. He encouraged those interested to visit Harborfreight.com and click on careers.

“We are excited about that because 50 jobs is a lot of jobs,” Dunaway said. “Typically we like to hire local and promote local.”