WARDEN - After about 20 years without a hardware store, Warden is enjoying the convenience of having one downtown.

Main St. Hardware & Supply is now open at 113 S Main St.

Grant County Fire District 4 Chief Randy Wiggins said the new store is helping the department because employees don't have to leave town for supplies.

"It's helping the community," he commented. "It's pretty well stocked. If they don't have it, they can get it in."

He describes the store's owners, Chris and Stacey Campbell, as "really good people to work with."

Wiggins called the store an asset to the community.

"We sorely missed one," he said. "We used to have a great one at TrueValue."

Chris Campbell said he and his wife opened their store because of their general contracting business, Shademakers, Inc.

He was tired of driving to Moses Lake for supplies, he said.

The Campbells decided to open the store as a second business and give it a try.

They are striving to offer affordable hardware supplies for the community.

No one opened a new store after the closure of TrueValue/Coast-to-Coast about 20 years ago, he said.

The store's closure wasn't due to a lack of customers; rather, the owner retired, he said.  

"It's amazing we went as long as we did and no one opened it," Chris Campbell said.

They remodeled a 1,400 square-foot building in downtown Warden, figuring they could start small.

They are working on adding a garden center and fencing in more lots to sell larger items like lumber and concrete mix.

"The community is loving it," he said. "They are extremely excited they have a hardware store and extremely supportive."

The Campbells received compliments for updating the store building downtown.

Customers have been supportive and patient as the Campbells order inventory and field their customer requests.

"We're enjoying it thoroughly," Chris Campbell said. "My wife really enjoys it."

They have a good crew with their contracting company and are able to devote the time needed to their hardware store, he explained.

Opening the store drew Stacey Campbell more into the community, she said.  She is from Moses Lake and her husband grew up in Warden.

"Everyone knows everyone and everyone supports everyone else," she said of Warden. "They're very supportive."

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday.

For more information, call 509-349-9906 or 509-349-9908.