.jpg)
Wlaf1450LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- “We started on Aug. 3, and I have eight weeks from today (Thu.) to finish,” said Joel Ferguson, superintendent of the Woodson’s Mall Harbor Freight project. Ferguson, who has constructed 30 or more Harbor Freight locations, adds that he is on a 10-week schedule and may be a little ahead of schedule.
TOP PHOTO: Crews spent much of Thursday on the entrance to Harbor Freight. One side will be enter only while the other will be exit only. HERE is where WLAF’s Charlie Hutson shares his photo gallery from Thursday’s visit to the future home of Harbor Freight at Woodson’s Mall.
See a related story HERE.
“They are rockin’ and rollin’,” said Becky Aiken (in above photo), Manager of Woodson’s Mall. She notes that it’s been quite the demolition project, and Harbor Freight is already taking applications. Crews are working from sun up to dark seven days a week.
A regional company out of New Tazewell, Simmons Construction, is turning the Jacksboro end of the mall into a Harbor Freight. In fact, Ferguson lives in Tazewell. “Oh, this is great. It’s not often I’m close to home and can drive in everyday,” said Ferguson.
“We call ourselves a Mall Circus, because we travel from mall to mall building Harbor Freights,” Ferguson stated.
On week eight of the project, Harbor Freight will begin bringing in inventory, according to Ferguson. “They traditionally open on Tuesdays, and it looks like it will be in October,” said Ferguson.
“Harbor Freight will use 17,000 square feet for retail with some additional square footage for storage, offices and such,” said Aiken.
Harbor Freight may employ 20 to 30 employees or more, according to Aiken who adds that she is basing her guesstimate on some of the other retailers in the mall. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-08/14/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)