A new Ames hardware store may have presented a business threat to smaller stores before its Jan. 21 opening, but store owners say they are not afraid of a little competition.

Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, 120 Airport Rd., is part of a nationwide chain that is gaining attention in the Ames community.

Manager Jim Arsham said the first week of business has been “fantastic.”

Among other merchandise, Lowe’s offers electrical and lighting supplies, plumbing supplies, lumber and a home decor department.

Arsham said Lowe’s garden center is another highlight of the new store.

“We really pride ourselves on our garden center. It is a real mainstay here at Lowe’s,” he said. “We are the largest garden retailer in the world.”

Mary Ketelsen, owner of Carr True Value Hardware, 306 Main St., said Lowe’s does not present a threat because Carr Hardware has garnered a strong business over the years. She also said the store has survived competition from other chain stores in Ames.

“The store has been here since 1912. I really don’t think we are going anywhere anytime soon,” Ketelsen said. “We have seen K-Mart, Wal-Mart and Target all come to Ames, and if they haven’t put us out of business, neither will this place,” she said.

John Litzel, owner of Litzel Lumber, 3705 Lincoln Way, expressed a similar opinion.

“Litzel Lumber has been open for 26 years. We have a strong loyalty from our regular patrons. I’m not too worried that Lowe’s will take much business from us,” he said.

Arsham said although some customers may have a loyalty to the smaller stores, Lowe’s will not suffer.

“We are not in the business of putting others out of business,” Arsham said.

He said he hopes the store draws business from Ames residents who drive to Ankeny or Des Moines to shop at larger stores.

Litzel said he attended meetings in preparation for the large chain store’s opening. He said owners and employees were told not to panic.

“We were prepared for some decline in sales and we got it, but only for the first week. When we opened Monday morning, business was back to usual,” he said.

Litzel said he is unsure if Ames is ready for a store like Lowe’s. He said Lowe’s biggest competition likely will be in Des Moines instead of Ames.

Both Litzel and Ketelsen said the convenience of smaller stores will work on their behalf.

“Even though we are located downtown, I still think that patrons can find a parking spot and be in and out of our store in much less time than it would take them to shop at Lowe’s,” Ketelsen said. “Many people like not having to run all over a huge store to find what they want.”

Arsham said one advantage of being a chain store is an opportunity to buy in larger quantities and pass the savings on to customers.

But both Litzel and Ketelsen said they found most of their merchandise was cheaper than Lowe’s.

Arsham claimed the smaller businesses dropped their prices in response to Lowe’s.

“In our comparison shopping we did before we opened, we noticed that they were higher-priced than us. Since our opening, they have adjusted their prices to be comparable to ours,” Arsham said.