Hardware store to open next week

CALUMET — A huge building left vacant when its grocery store closed in 2014 will now be home to a new hardware store and more.

Campioni’s True Value is scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday, May 24th. The 25,000 square foot building has hardware, camping supplies, fishing gear, yarn and other items not easily found in the northern parts of the Keweenaw.

Store co-owner Ben Campioni said, “Our nuts and bolt section is the biggest in the Midwest. We’ve got a huge selection and variety of nuts and bolts and we also have a farm and ranch department in the store that’s going to be very unique for specialty pets-dog food, cat food-that type of stuff.”

Both the hardware store and the attached convenience store will offer organic options for buyers.

Campioni said, “That seems to be the growing segment in the grocery business- more organics and people eating healthier, so in our convenience store we still have our traditional Frito Lay products and pop products, but we also have an organic twist on it, and also in cleaning supplies, we got a lot of organics in there.”

The gas station outside will also reopen, and additional restaurant and shopping choices are expected to open at the location in the next 9-12 months. Ten to 15 jobs were created by the hardware store alone, with more opportunities coming when the other retailers move in.