Lowe’s, the home improvement store, celebrated the opening of its new location earlier this year with a grand opening and board-cutting ceremony on February 13th. The event drew city leaders, chamber members, and many Celina residents, highlighting the community’s welcoming spirit. Lowe’s broke ground on the new store in March 2025 and welcomed customers in January. Store Manager Jason Garrod and his team have demonstrated how a large company can successfully become part of a close-knit, community-driven town like Celina.
"Service is at the core of everything we do here at Lowe’s, and solving problems and helping customers across their journey is our mandate," said Lowe’s South Division President Joel Cogdell. "Whether that’s helping a family settle into their new home or helping a Pro get everything they need for their project, we are excited to open stores in these communities and begin providing the value and exceptional service Lowe's is known for."
Jason and his team arrived in Celina in June and immediately hit the ground running. He subscribes to a philosophy of “be there for your customers and give back.” Jason attended the Celina Citizens Government Academy. This program, offered by the city of Celina, offers residents and business owners an in-depth look at the inner workings of their local government. This four-month program provides firsthand knowledge of city operations, services, and decision-making processes. Giving Jason a deeper understanding of municipal government while building meaningful connections within the community.
If you were around last summer and fall, you probably saw those red and blue vests at many events all over town. At several Helping Hands of Celina back-to-school events, Jason and his team helped sort and fold clothing, collect and count supplies, provide much-needed storage containers, and make a generous donation on behalf of Lowe’s. Recently, Jason was named as a new member of the Helping Hands of Celina board. Jason’s involvement ensures Lowe's support for community members in need in many ways.
The Lowe’s team sponsored the Christmas Carriage Rides in downtown Celina and provided 11 Christmas trees to decorate the carriage station. After the event, these trees, including decorations, were donated to 11 families in need. Lowe’s also supports the Donkey and Equine Rescue, assisting with the construction of new barns and pens to better protect the animals from harsh weather. Their commitment extends to the Celina High School Special Olympics, where they sponsored the event and provided lunch for contestants and volunteers. GraceBridge’s new store in Celina has similarly benefited from Lowe’s volunteers, who helped sort donations, distribute food, restock shelves, and offer consulting and supplies to optimize the new space and maximize sales.
Jason sees his role not just as a store manager but also as an active member of the community. His vision is for the store to be seen as a neighbor helping neighbors. He was recently named regional director of the Disaster Relief Organization, with the ability to quickly mobilize resources and people in the event of an emergency.
The Lowe's Corporation provides annual local community grants. These grants provide funds and volunteer support for community improvement projects. Local residents or community advocates can nominate projects in their town that they believe deserve support. A selection committee reviews submissions and awards up to roughly 100 grants each year.
The generous square footage of the Celina Lowe's has allowed Lowe’s to introduce new designs and products, making it different from other Lowe's stores in the area. The store is about 10% bigger than a traditional Lowe’s store. Some of the unique features include upgraded, luxury appliances in the appliance department. You might also notice that refrigerators are displayed at counter depth to help customers visualize how the appliance might look in their kitchen.
The Celina is one of the first stores to roll out the new self-service paint kiosks as a standard feature for new stores. The kiosks use an interactive touchscreen to guide customers through selecting the right paint and placing their order without waiting in line. Orders are sent instantly to a red-vest associate with all necessary details for accurate, efficient mixing. Customers are notified via text when their order is ready. The streamlined system reduces wait times, keeps projects moving, and frees up associates to help customers with broader project needs.
The stores also offer an expanded 30,000 square feet of outdoor garden space and bring in more live goods, a wider variety of hardscape supplies, and more drought-tolerant plants to better landscape for our harsh Texas summers.
The Pro Department has been significantly expanded to better serve professional contractors and tradespeople who need to pick up supplies efficiently and get back to their projects. With a loading area twice the size of a traditional Lowe’s store, the team can process orders and load materials much faster, helping pros stay on schedule.
One of the favorite features of a Lowe’s store is the Kids Club. New workshop registrants in Celina will receive aprons and goggles and the opportunity to earn builder’s badges. You can register for workshop events in-store or online by visiting Lowes.com/KidsClub. Later this year, Lowe’s plans to bring its Kids Club workshops to the Celina square, inspiring the next generation of DIYers.
Celina Lowes has about 150 associates at any time. It was important to Jason to hire staff who live in Celina. About 70 of his Celina staff are what he calls “BRICs”, born and raised in Celina. This ensures that the store is anchored in the community and will remain so for many years to come.
Jason and the Lowe’s team are committed to being a true pillar of the Celina community. Their goal is to become the go-to destination for professional builders, tradespeople, and DIYers alike. They strive to be deeply integrated, aiming to be the first call when the community needs support or expertise. With a vision centered on giving back and active involvement, Jason and his team are determined to be more than just another big box store on Preston Road. They want to know their customers by name and build lasting relationships.
3540 S Preston Rd, Celina