Hardware Chain Makes Self at Home

Illinois is home to thousands of hardware retailers, from cornerstores to sprawling chains in suburban shopping centers. But thesign outside Home Depot's first Chicago-area store proclaims it as"Illinois' home improvement warehouse."

The phrase atop the bright orange building in Niles shows justhow much moxie Home Depot has as it enters the local market.

The Niles store, which officially opens Thursday, will befollowed by store openings in Darien in October, Broadview and OrlandPark in November and Evanston and Chicago near the Brickyard ShoppingCenter early next year. Altogether, the Atlanta company plans toopen 12 stores in the Chicago market within a year …