New Store Planned At Ex-Ernst Site Former Supplier Acquires Lease For Lincoln Heights Location

The former Ernst Home and Nursery store on Spokane’s South Hill will re-open as a hardware and nursery in April.

Stan Jensen, formerly of Jensen Distribution, Ernst’s biggest supplier, has taken over the lease for the building and plans to run the store.

The new business will be called Heights Home Center and Nursery and will employ between 25 and 40 people, Jensen said.

“It’s a great location,” Jensen said. “I saw a real need in the area” for a hardware store.

The store is located at 2520 E. 29th in Lincoln Heights.

The new store will carry much of the same merchandise as did Ernst, but will not be a discount store, Jensen said.

Jensen has been with Jensen Distribution since 1969 and will leave his position as senior vice president for national accounts to open the hardware store. His brother, Mike Jensen, is president of Jensen Distribution.

Ernst closed its Spokane and North Idaho stores in late January after filing for bankruptcy in July. The 104-year-old company had operated stores in Spokane since 1969.

It’s unclear what will happen to the remaining Ernst stores in this region.

, DataTimes