SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane’s Upper South Hill is gearing up for increased traffic with the opening of a new Home Depot store. The store will open its doors in just 13 days, on June 12, where the former Shopko building stood vacant for six years.
The arrival of Home Depot is generating both excitement and concern among local residents and business owners. Located at the intersection of 44th and Regal, the new store is expected to bring more people and cars to the area, which is already home to numerous businesses, homes, and apartment complexes.
Local businesses see this as an opportunity to attract more customers. The old Shopko building, which sat empty for years, had become overgrown with grass and weeds and even experienced a fire intentionally set during its vacancy.
However, not everyone is celebrating the new addition. Some residents are worried about increased traffic during rush hour. Small retailers are also concerned about the competition posed by the big-box store.
In particular, the Ruggiero’s Ace Hardware store, which has served the Spokane community for more than 20 years from their Regal location, has concerns about Home Depot’s direct competition.
“I have sympathy for Ace. I think it’s done a really good job up here to provide people with that service. And I hope they survive it and I hope they provide a more personal service which gives them a reason for people to go here,” Larry Jones, a nearby resident, stated.
The Home Depot store will span more than 136,000 square feet and include a garden center. It is expected to employ more than 200 people. A community preview event is scheduled for the night of June 11, with the store officially opening at 6 a.m. on June 12.
