Still, Dunn said, "I think to local businesses, stores like this have a detrimental effect. Pretty soon that's all you'll have: Home Depot and Wal-Mart. And then look out."

If Millcreek Pharmacy & Hardware were simply "Millcreek Hardware," it likely would not have survived the entry of Home Depot into the market, Dunn said, indicating that hardware sales were "significantly hurt" when the Ft. Union Home Depot opened.

Gallagher disagreed, maintaining there's a market out there.

"Salt Lake is a viable market, one that continues to grow," she said. "The support from our customers is tremendous in terms of driving business and continually coming back. So we think this store will serve a great area that we're not currently serving."

Home Depot now has 16 stores in Utah and employs more than 3,000 people statewide.

---

E-mail: jnii@desnews.com