Burnsville, Minn.-based Northern Tool + Equipment has chosen Lafayette for its first expansion into Louisiana, opening across from Acadiana Mall at 3559 Ambassador Caffery Parkway (the space most recently occupied by a short-lived furniture store and before that Conn’s).

Founded in 1981, Northern is a retailer of tools, hardware and equipment; the Lafayette store has more than 13,000 square feet of sales floor and includes more than 8,000 products within nine different departments: automotive, equipment, hardware, material handling, outdoor power equipment, tools, trailer, promotion and apparel.

The company sells its products through direct mail, the Internet and at more than 85 retail locations in 19 states. Along with a large selection of hand, power and air tools, Northern Tool + Equipment carries generators, pressure washers, air compressors, hydraulics, small engines, trailers, water pumps, tractors and welding equipment.