Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish residents can now find affordable automotive supplies and specialty tools for any household project imaginable. Harbor Freight celebrated its grand opening this past Saturday at 1312 W. Airline Highway, the former site of Acadiana Cinemas in LaPlace.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held one day prior, drawing participation from local business owners and parish dignitaries.

Store manager Asia Daniels said the deals inside the store are equally as bold as the eye-catching red sign that greets motorists traveling along Airline Highway. Harbor Freight offers everything from hammer drills that break up concrete to tile and grout sanders and sheetrock tools, making it a convenient location to shop while planning Hurricane Ida repairs. According to Daniels, the hottest item right now is a 9500-watt generator.

LaPlace marks the 19th location in Louisiana for this major retailer, which started in 1977 as a small, family-owned business. Over more than 40 years, Harbor Freight has grown to offer everything from hand tools to generators and power tools at prices up to 80% less than competing brands. Harbor Freight is continuing to expand its selection by developing and launching more than 1,000 new tools each year.

“We are new to the area, so people are really excited and very welcoming,” Daniels said. “LaPlace is a prime location because our nearest stores, Gonzales and Metairie, are 30 minutes away in either direction. We are centralized right here for people who don’t have the time to travel 30 or 40 minutes away to get something that is at a reasonable price. We are in their backyard now.”

Daniels added that Harbor Freight stands apart from competitors with a commitment to always put customers and team members first.

The LaPlace location had its soft opening on December 22, approximately two weeks before the grand opening on January 10. While some smaller promotions are taking place, Daniels said the biggest special that customers can take advantage of is the inside track membership, which offers special pricing on specific items each month. The cost of the optional membership is $30 per year, and savings on sale items can range from $10 upwards to $200.

St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard was present for the ribbon cutting ceremony, along with District Two Councilman Warren “Bosco” Torres and District 6 Councilwoman Tonia Schnyder.

Schnyder referred to herself as a “Harbor Freight junkie,” explaining that she was the first customer to walk through the doors. During the soft opening in the last week of December, she was able to scoop up some unique Christmas gifts for her loved ones.
“To have a business of this magnitude is definitely something that is much-needed. It’s very much welcomed in our parish,” Schnyder said. “Each time you come, you realize there’s something you missed the last time. There’s always something different. There’s something for everybody in here. That’s the beauty of it all.”

The LaPlace store hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The store can be reached at 985-248-3060.