Hardware Store To Occupy Former Wakefield Job Lot Store

WAKEFIELD, RI — The building formerly occupied by Ocean State Job Lot in Wakefield is about to get a new tenant. On Thursday, Salk's Ace Hardware and Marine will be moving into the store in the coming weeks.

The store has set empty since last June, when Job Lot moved just down the road to the former Benny's store on Kingstown Road.

"When we heard Ocean State Job Lot was leaving to go to Benny’s we gave them a call immediately," said Jeff Salk, the store's owner. "We have been interested in that area for a while, and this space makes sense for us."

Salk's is a fifth-generation family-owned business. The company agreed to a long-term lease with the Job Lot corporation to move into the Wakefield store.

"As we prepared to leave our old location in Wakefield, which we had occupied for nearly 40 years, we were determined not to allow it to sit vacant for very long," said David Steinberg, a spokesperson for Ocean State Job Lot. "We know Salk’s Ace Hardware and Marine will be a welcome addition to the area."

This will be the company's third location in Rhode Island, with others in North Kingstown and Warwick, as well as nearby Seekonk, Massachusetts.

A soft opening is scheduled for later this month, with a grand opening to be held from April 3 to 5, featuring sales, promotions, raffles and giveaways.

"It will be our pleasure to serve both commercial and sport fisherman, giving them a home for everything they need moving forward," Salk said.