THIRD STORE OF OLE’S Hordware Center chain opened In West Covina Friday, with store and city officials on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremonies. Largest chain of its kind In the San Gabriel Valley, the stores are the creation of Mew Knell of Arcadia. Shown from left at the opening are Tom Gillum, West Covina Councilman; Mayor Harvey S. Krieger; Len Gieckman, Councilman; Max Knell, store owner; Herb Karpel, store manager; David H. Sprang, Mayor of La Puente, and Harry J. McGuire, general manager for Ole's.Inter-City Newspapers PhotosMax Knell Opens Third Ole/HardwareCenterforValleyGrand opening of the third Ole’s Hardware Center at 1200 West Francisquito Avenue in West Covina was held Friday morning.And proudest man on hand for the official ribbon - cutting ceremonies was Max D. Knell of Arcadia, who founded the firm in 1946.Knell is well known in Southern Caifomia for his work with the United Jewish Appeal and other civic projects.But his success story with Ole’s began 20 years ago when he bought a small store (1120 square feet of space) called Ole’s Bargain House. There were just three employees at that time.Under Knell’s leadership, thestore expanded rapidly. The parent store at 8450 Valley Boulevard in Rosemead, the second store at 422 West Arrow Highway in Covina, and now the new Ole’s in West Covina now occupy close to 200,000 square feet of floor space. And the three units make Ole’s Hardware Centers the largest chain of its kind in the entire San Gabriel Valley.The new West Covina store, completely air conditioned has been called a “model of shopping convenience.” The store has more than 60,000 square feet of selling space, and there is parking for more than 1,000 cars.Huge stocks of plumbing, hardware, housewares, garden, automotive, electrical, paint, fireplace, patio, barbecue, lumber and building materials make the store a genuine “one-stop shopping center” for all home needs, according to Knell.Every department is completely staffed with trained sales personnel who are experts in their field, ready to offer knowledgeable advice to all who desire it.Knell is a member of the Pasadena Jewish Temple Center. In 1965 he served as president of the United Jewish Appeal.He resides with his family at 6 Woodland Lane in Arcadia. The Knell’s have three children; two are married and one is at home in Arcadia.r_TSt*MAX KNELL