MARION - When Menards opened the doors to its enormous store last week, there was already a crowd of people waiting to push their way into the home super store.

"There was a little bit of a crowd out to the parking lot," said Dwaine McDonald, assistant manager of the newest acquisition to grace The Hill in Marion.

At 242,000 square feet, home décor warehouse Menards has attracted a lot of attention. At the first day of the store's "soft opening," dozens of customers milled about the store, searching through the wares and taking in the atmosphere of a store that boasts rows and rows of perfectly decorated Christmas trees.

"We call this the enchanted forest," McDonald explained, gesturing toward the tree haven that could serve as Martha Stewart's ultimate dream.

A grand opening for the store will be held in mid-November, but the store is definitely open for business.

Dorothy Hilliard, whose granddaughter is one of many employees at the store, was one customer who wound her way through the aisles on the first official day.

"It looks pretty good to me," Hilliard said.

ashley.wiehle@thesouthern.com

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