Moses Lake Lowe's to open Tuesday

Grand opening Thursday

MOSES LAKE - The new Lowe's store on East Yonezawa Boulevard will be ready for customers ahead of schedule with a soft opening at 6 a.m. Tuesday and a grand opening at 10 a.m. Thursday, store manager Brian Bruley said.

The store is also open on Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., said Bruley.

Instead of cutting a ribbon, Moses Lake Mayor Ron Covey will cut a board during the grand opening event on Thursday, Bruley confirmed. The ceremony will be quick and local dignitaries were invited, he noted.

Many people like to be the first ones in the store during that day, he said.

Bruley said he wants the community to know the store is customer-focused and strives to put the customers first by offering the best possible service.

Moses Lake is definitely a growing community and Lowe's sees a lot of potential growth, Bruley said.

"Things are wonderful," Bruley said. "The community has been overwhelmingly positive for us."

The store went up fast, which includes a 32,000-square-foot garden center. As a result, the business is opening three weeks early, Bruley added.

"We really like to do a product mix that matches the community and the environment," he noted. "Each store is a little different."

Bruley said employees have worked between six to seven days a week for the past few months preparing for the store's opening. Hiring employees and placing merchandise have taken up this time, he added. There are more than 40,000 items in the store.

About 110 employees were hired and it's expected the number will increase to 175 employees in the spring, which is the store's busiest time, he said.

Of the 110 employees, 70 percent are full-time workers.

Jobs in sales and receiving and stocking still need to be filled, he said. But the store is always looking for quality people for all positions, Bruley added.

Upper management positions have been filled, with managers coming to Moses Lake from the Wenatchee, Kennewick and Pasco stores, he confirmed. Bruley formerly worked as the operations manager of a Lowe's near Yakima.

Of the seven to eight employees who transferred into the Moses Lake Lowe's, between 98 to 99 people were hired from the Moses Lake area, he said.

Starting Thursday, store specials running through Sunday include 10 percent off major appliances, $249 for an entire home's carpet installation, a $5 mail-in rebate on Valspar Ultra Premium Paint, 15 percent off wet and dry Shop Vacs and a special on 13-watt mini twist CFL light bulbs, according to a store flyer.

People can also enter a gift card drawing at the store. There will be drawings for $100 cards from Wednesday through Saturday. A $500 card will be drawn on Sunday.

Customers who buy a gift card on Thursday will help Moses Lake Habitat for Humanity's next project because Lowe's is matching purchases up to $5,000.

Store hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 509-764-2600.