Harbor Freight Tools has leveled its eye on the former Office Max building off Highway 20 in Oak Harbor, according to a sign permit application with the city.

The Oak Harbor location would be one of the more than 1,000 locations the discount tool retail chain has around the country. It offers everything from air compressors to welding supplies at lower prices than big box hardware stores.

The sign permit shows a tall, freestanding sign in front of the building next to the city’s pocket park on the west side of Highway 20.

A sample floor plan posted in the window of the building said the low-price tools purveyor will open in November.

It does not appear that Harbor Freight Tools will occupy the entire space.

The drawing showed that the tools shop would take up about two-thirds of the building and leave 8,500 square feet available for another storefront.

Splitting a large building isn’t unprecedented in Oak Harbor after a big-box retailer closes. After Kmart left its former building a little farther south on Highway 20, Tractor Supply Co. moved into a portion of the space.

A request for comment to the tools conglomerate went unanswered as of press time. Oak Harbor city staff said they had only received a sign application so far.

Although there are several job openings at nearby stores, there were no postings for the future Oak Harbor store as of Thursday afternoon.