Tractor Supply Co. closing Port Huron Twp. store

When the new Tractor Supply Company opens in Fort Gratiot in September, the Port Huron Township location will close.

Dale Torbet, Tractor Supply Company southeast Michigan district manager, said there is not enough demand to support both stores.

“We are giving ourselves an opportunity to have more visibility with a higher traffic (township),” Torbet said. “We are moving to a location that already attracts many shoppers.”

The Port Huron Township location will close once the new location opens.

“We will make known to our customers when exactly the transition will be once it comes closer,” Torbet said. “But it will happen pretty close to the same time.”

Torbet said he is excited about the change because it will allow the store to better serve customers. The new store will be larger and offer more merchandise.

“We know it will put a hardship on some of our customers that live close to the current location, but we feel we will better be able to serve people in a larger store,” Torbet said.

TSC will employ around 12 to 17 full- and part-time employees at that location. Dane Walker, Tractor Supply Company Port Huron Township  manager, said all 14 Port Huron Township employees will be moving to the new Fort Gratiot location. He said if there is an increased demand in sales, then more employees may be hired.

TSC opened at the 1400 32nd St. location in Port Huron Township in 2002. Previously the store was located on Lapeer Road next to Baker College.

According to St. Clair County property records, the Port Huron Township TSC property has a $500,000 taxable value.

Paul Maxwell, Port Huron Township Downtown Development Authority director, said he hates to see the store leave, but hopes a new business will move in quickly.

“It was a popular spot especially since the expressway was just finished,” Maxwell said. “We are looking hard for a new business and we know there are some new businesses that are looking to move in to town and I think it would be a good spot for those.”

However, Maxwell said there has not yet been any specific interest in the property yet.

Last week construction crews broke ground on the future Tractor Supply Company in Fort Gratiot.

Workers have started building the infrastructure and underground utility work on the new store.

“Now that the thaw is here, a lot of the projects we have had in the works are picking up now,” said Kristy Jones, Fort Gratiot zoning administrator.

With work continuing through the summer, the store is slated to open in September.

“The soft opening is tentatively set for Sept. 1 with a grand opening celebration slated for Sept. 24, 2016,” Tractor Supply Company spokeswoman said Charlotte Weatherington in an email.

The lawn, garden and animal product retailer also opened a location in Marysville in October.

Weatherington said TSC is excited to be a new member of the Fort Gratiot business community.

The 21,900-square-foot building will be at 4802 24th Ave., across from Walmart. On the 4.10 acres of land, the company will also have a nearly 20,000-square-foot outdoor storage area for larger items.

Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or nhayden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @nicoleandpig.