A Dollar Tree discount store is planning to open in the spring 2021 at 628 First Ave. in Perry in the current location of Harland Ace Hardware.
“Dollar Tree continues to grow, and we are proud to be part of the Perry community,” said Kayleigh Painter, manager of investor and media relations for Dollar Tree Inc.
Painter said a 12,000-square-foot store the size of Perry’s typically employs 12 to 20 associates. Interested applicants can apply online at www.DollarTree.com/careers or in person at the store location closer to the opening date, she said.
The Chesapeake, Virginia-based Dollar Tree Inc. is a Fortune 200 Company, operating more than 15,000 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces. Most stores are open seven days a week and offer a broad assortment of merchandise priced at $1 or less. The corporation’s stores trade under the brands Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree Canada.
Harland Ace Hardware is relocating to the former Shopko Hometown store at 1305 141st St. The 35,000-square-foot building is undergoing remodeling and expects to open in the fall.
The Harland family has traded in Perry for 51 years. The hardware business can be traced back to Rex McCreary, the Perry benefactor after whom, with his wife Irma, the McCreary Community Building was named.
The McCreary Bros. Hardware Co. operated in the first floor of the Pattee Hotel at 1106- 1112 Willis Ave. from 1925 to 1951, when McCreary sold the business to Glen Beebout, who ran Beebout Hardware until 1968.
The store was briefly known as Ralph’s Bargain Barn until Max Harland opened as an Ace Hardware store in March 1969, later relocating the business to the south First Avenue in 1986. Harland’s son, Ron Harland, is now taking the business farther south to the former Shopko Hometown store, which closed in June 2019.
Harland’s new 35,000-square-foot location is expected to open in November.
This is not what Perry needs. I can see the end to Ben’s Five and Dime, which will be another empty building on Second Street.
This is exactly what Perry needs. Their prices are better than anyone else’s locally on many items. Many family’s limited incomes are going to be stretched by being able to buy their products. If local stores in town cannot compete, it’s too bad, but there are hundreds of people in Perry who want to be able to buy things for their families at much lower prices. Is that not more important? Is not our ability to buy the same items at Dollar Tree cheaper so we can save our money or be able to afford more things for our children kind of important?
I think this is the best news ever! The Dollar Tree is my favorite store. Now, I won’t have to drive to Des Moines to shop at a Dollar Tree store. I will still shop at Ben Franklin’s too. This can and will work!!!!!
I just wish maybe they could’ve chosen a better location, perhaps where the old Hy-Vee use to be or maybe the East Perry Plaza. They’d definitely have to repair the parking lot. Long overdue, Alliant Energy should get the bill since they caused the damage.