The Home Depot opened its first two stores in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1979.
Bernard Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ken Langone, Pat Farrah, and Kenneth G. Langone helped establish the company after Marcus and Blank left their previous retail jobs. The first stores opened in June 1979 in former locations of the discount chain Treasure Island.
The founders promoted a warehouse-style home-improvement format with wide aisles, large inventories, and knowledgeable staff. This approach was designed to serve both do-it-yourself shoppers and professional contractors, rather than focusing mainly on small hardware purchases.
The Home Depot grew rapidly across the United States and became the largest home-improvement retailer in the country. Its early stores were in Atlanta, while the company was incorporated in Delaware and later based in Georgia. The first stores should not be confused with the company's first distribution center or later big-box expansions.