In 1982, Harbor Freight Tools opened its first retail store in Lexington, Kentucky, to sell returned merchandise from its mail order business.

[7] Harbor Freight sells many tools, accessories, and numerous other types of product under in-house brands, sourced directly from manufacturers.

[13][14] In 2022, Harbor Freight Tools opened a distribution center in Joliet, Illinois, spanning 1.6 million square feet in size and creating 800 new jobs.

In 2012, Harbor Freight, through Credit Suisse, secured a $750 million loan to refinance existing debt and fund a dividend for the company's private shareholders.

[15] Harbor Freight Tools states "one of our core values is giving back to the great communities where we live, work and serve.

The company supports K-12 skilled trades education, veterans, and police and fire organizations with donations and gifts of tools and equipment.

In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harbor Freight Tools committed to donate its entire supply of N95 masks, face shields, and nitrile gloves to U.S. hospitals which had a 24-hour emergency room.

[19] Harbor Freight Tools was sued by a group of its store employees in 2012, who alleged that they were misclassified as "exempt" from overtime payments as "managers" under the Fair Labor Standards Act.