New hardware store coming to Royal City

ROYAL CITY — Royal City public works crews soon will begin upgrades to a water line on Beech Avenue Northeast, providing water to property being developed for a new hardware, lumber and feed store, with plans to open in March 2022.

Josh Fanning, one of the property’s owners, said the plan is to build 15,000 square feet of retail space for hardware and another 4,500 square feet for lumber and animal feed. He also said the plan is to break ground in July.

The property, 336 Camelia St. NE, was the former location of the Grant County Fire District 10 fire station and office. According to Royal City municipal records, the current property owners are Josh and Ben Fanning and Andrea Visker. Josh and Ben Fanning also are the owners of Royal City Harvest Foods.

City planner Daryl Piercy said during the May 4 Royal City City Council meeting city officials are reviewing the preliminary design for the hardware store. A building permit application should be submitted by the end of the month, Piercy said, and city officials should issue a SEPA determination, which addresses environmental impacts, sometime this week.

Council members approved a request at the Feb. 16 council meeting to replat a small section of the property to increase the amount of buildable land.

City public works director John Lasen said the current water line running to the property is inadequate for the proposed facility and must be enlarged.