The message I take from this is that downriver Detroit must be rebounding. I think downriver was hit very hard by the banker's crisis. Perhaps Menards counted cars in the Home Depot and Lowes nearby and realized there's room.

They're rather a small-town chain, afaik. I think they're right that there's room for a player that's a little bit less sophisticated than HD/Lowes... but from my experience beats them on prices.