From left, Green’s Supply Depot co-owners Tracie Deweese, Chris Deweese and Debbie Kimble prepare to cut the ribbon in front of the new location at 1050 Division St., Parkersburg, on Tuesday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Green’s Supply Depot cut the ribbon on its store in the former south side Kmart building Tuesday afternoon, but the company and its owners aren’t exactly new to the area.

Co-owner Chris Deweese lives in Jackson County and noted the company purchased Lemon’s Farm Equipment in 2023. Co-owner Debbie Kimble lives in Scott Depot now but graduated from Williamstown High School and remembers shopping with her mother at the old Kmart.

“We were presented with an opportunity to get this building,” Kimble said as people explored the 71,000 square-foot space Tuesday. “I loved it because it was local for me. And I still have a lot of family in the area.

“I loved growing up here in the community, and giving back to it is something we all want to do,” she said.

Hundreds of people lined up to enter the store, which offers farm supplies, lawn and garden equipment, lumber, guns, bows and more.

Parkersburg resident Ryan Wilt and his sons Whalen, left, and Ryan Jr. look over the fishing equipment at Green’s Supply Depot in Parkersburg shortly after the store officially opened Tuesday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“I’ve been hearing a lot about it,” Vincent resident Daniel Waterman said. “We just wanted to stop and check it out and support local business.”

Among the guests was state Treasurer Larry Pack, who said he wanted to celebrate a West Virginia business creating jobs.

“We all have old Kmarts in our neighborhoods,” he said. “And to see one repurposed and reimagined like this is exciting.”

Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce borrowed a bit from former late night talk show host David Letterman, offering the top 10 reasons he was excited about the opening – although he listed fishing poles twice, at Nos. 3 and 4.

“You can’t have too many flashlights,” Joyce said. And “another spot to buy ammunition gets me excited.”

Green’s Supply Depot co-owner Debbie Kimble, right, speaks before a ribbon-cutting at the new Parkersburg store Tuesday. Kimble is from the area and graduated from Williamstown High School. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Red tractors, of which Green’s had several on display, topped his list.

Deweese said the opening of the store brings about 50 new jobs, with another 10 moving over from the Lemon’s location, whose operations will eventually be consolidated at the new site.

Wood County Economic Development Executive Director Lindsey Piersol applauded the company’s investment in the property, which she said upgrades “a corner that really needs to be revitalized.”

Deweese acknowledged a lot of work went into the building.

“It was a dinosaur. It was in bad, bad shape,” he said. “We built this store based upon what we see as the needs for farmers, contractors, homeowners, sportsmen and … sportswomen.”

Customers file in to Green’s Supply Depot shortly after the ribbon was cut on the West Virginia-based company’s new store in Parkersburg Tuesday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Deweese said there are a couple more announcements on the horizon, which will lead to more guns, ammunition and bows being offered. He noted there is an additional 14,000 square feet of space between Green’s and Kroger that the company owns and plans to lease out.

Customers walk through the new Green’s Supply Depot location in Parkersburg Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Customers walk through the new Green’s Supply Depot location in Parkersburg Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce, left, and West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack await the start of a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside the new Green’s Supply Depot location on Division Street in Parkersburg Tuesday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

DJ EJ provides music during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event Tuesday at Green’s Supply Depot in Parkersburg. (Photo by Evan Bevins)