Major Midwest hardware retailer buys land in Manatee

A major, and beloved, Midwest home improvement retailer has bought 30 acres of property with a 56,000-square-foot building on it in east Manatee County.

Wisconsin-based Menard Inc., which owns more than 300 Menards stores across 15 states, closed on the agricultural land in Myakka City last month, paying $10.3 million.

In an email Thursday morning, Nick Brenner, a real estate representative for the company, says "I appreciate you reaching out but Menards is not looking to expand into Florida at this time." He did not respond to a follow up email asking what the company intended to use the property for.