T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM MEMBERS OF the Belmont County Chamber of Commerce, local elected officials and ICR employees cut the ceremonial ribbon at Bellaire Hardware’s ICR Equipment Rental Sales and Supplies on Friday. The store held its grand opening on Friday afternoon. Celebratory savings run throughout the weekend until Sunday.

BELLAIRE — More than 100 people attended the Bellaire Hardware’s ICR Equipment Rental Sales & Supply grand opening on Friday afternoon.

“We’ve got everything from tools to supplies, apparel and FR (fire resistant) gear, equipment and everything in between,” Cody Day, marketing director, said.

The store had a soft opening in mid-July but held an official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday. ICR will celebrate its official opening at the location all weekend with giveaways, raffles, free food and sales. Day said the big winner will receive 10 percent off storewide.

Basketball players of the Bellaire High School Big Reds team offered their services at a dunk tank, where customers could pay to take a chance at dunking the athletes. All proceeds of the tank went directly to the high school.

“That’s really our big ‘thank you’ to the community for supporting us for so long is to give them an opportunity to come get what they need at a better price in a place that’s nice and convenient and local for them,” he said.

The hardware store is locally owned and operated, Day said. Prior to the new store opening, the closest ICR location was in St. Clairsville at the Ohio Valley Mall.

“We get a lot of people that say they have to go out of town for different things, so now we’ve got it here,” he said.

But ICR actually has its roots in Bellaire in the early 1900s. That’s when Bellaire Hardware & Supply Co. evolved from McVey Plumbing Supply on 31st Street. By 1916, Bellaire Hardware & Supply Co. came into existence and occupied the entire corner of 32nd and Union streets. According to its website, the company continued to grow under family ownership.

In 1995, small-tool equipment rental was added and the name changed to Bellaire Hardware & Equipment Rental. In 1997, larger equipment like skid loaders and trenchers were added to the inventory. The firm continued to outgrow various locations and moved around the community.

Owner Kenny Ware took over in March 2007 and again expanded and relocated the business — and changing its name to the current ICR Equipment Rental, Sales & Supply.

Day said a steady stream of people visited the grand opening, and staff from Gulla’s were present to provide a free lunch to customers. Gulla’s gave out more than 175 hotdogs at the opening and will provide hungry customers with more dogs today as well. Dixie’s BBQ provided dinner to attending customers.

The radio station Biggie 100.5 was on site as well and gave away Kennywood tickets to select winners.

“It’s been a really great turnout. I couldn’t ask for more,” Day said. “It’s all about keeping it here. It’s family owned, family operated. We look a little bit bigger, because we are a little bit bigger.”

The store’s festivities end at 6 p.m. Saturday, however the deals will go on through Sunday.

ICR employees, local elected officials and others cut the ceremonial ribbon at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the event.