In your typical hardware store you might find nuts and bolts, powertools, handtools, workware, building supplies and other items, but MAC'S is anything but typical.
"Our motto is 'Not just another hardware store' and that's absolutely right because you'll never know what you might find here," said Randy Anderson, corporate sales manager for the company. "We've had airline seats, dental chairs, Humvee tops and other odd items in our stores."
For its Minot store, scheduled to open March 1 at 400-20th Ave. SW, MAC'S is incorporating some unique additions to its product line-up.
"We are going to have a discount grocery section where customers can get everything from T.P. to peas and we are also going to be adding a nostalgic pop, candy and game section," Anderson said. "People will be able to get Nesbitt's Orange Soda, Grape Nehi (Knee-High) and Erector sets that 40, 50 and 60-year-old people will say, 'I haven't seen that since I was a kid.' "
While MAC'S does carry a full line of hardware products and supplies, hand and power tools, tow and fasteners, tubing and lawn and garden items for farm, home and industry, the store also specilizes in bulk items, heavy-duty supplies for industrial-size projects, upholstery products like poly-foam (cut to size) upholstery fabrics, springs and rubber matting. The company also acquires used, unused and overstock items of machine parts, industrial equipment, military items, etc., for use in its bargain barn and surplus buys sections.
A family-owned business for more than 30 years, Moorheadbased MAC'S has 10 other locations throughout South Daktoa, Minnesota and four locations in eastern and central North Dakota: Fargo, Devils Lake, Bismarck and Jamestown.
"Because we're family-owned, we can have a quick response to unforeseen circumstances like we saw this spring with the flooding in Fargo. We're small enough to react quickly but big enough that we know our manufacturers personally," Anderson said. "We can get pretty much anything you could ask for, so we will be keeping our eyes and ears out to find items that fit the community."
The company has been looking to move into the Minot area for some time, he said, but it wasn't until recently that the right opportunity to move presented itself. To celebrate the opening of its new store in Minot and its new building in Jamestown, he said the company is planning to hold a grand opening celebration in April.