Harbor Freight Tools opened Jan. 27 in downtown Federal Way.

The discount hardware retailer occupies the former Gen X store at the northwest corner of South 320th Street and Pacific Highway. A grand opening celebration is slated for Feb. 15. The Federal Way location employs 18 people, with six of those full time.

“We’re great for the handyman person at home or at a general business,” said store manager Rick Saunders. “A lot of companies can’t touch our prices.”

Headquartered in Calabasas, Calif., Harbor Freight Tools has 370 stores nationwide. Other local locations include Tacoma and Kent. Most of the products sold at Harbor Freight Tools are private label store brands. The discount store sells everything from power tools and hand tools to garage and shop equipment, lawn and garden items, welding machines, generators and more.

Harbor Freight Tools (31858 Pacific Highway S.) is located at the city’s busiest intersection. Former building tenant Gen X was evicted in January 2011 after the clothier apparently failed to make much of its 2010 rent and property tax payments to the building owner.