Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse (NYSE: LOW) is a US-base chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves over 13 million customers a week in its 1555 stores in 50 states and Canada. With the opening of the South Burlington, Vermont location, Lowe's now operates stores in all 50 states. Expansion into Canada began in 2007, with the opening of a store in Hamilton, Ontario. Lowe's Companies, Inc. is 48 on the Fortune 500 list. As of 2008, the chain is based in Mooresville, North Carolina, about 30 minutes north of uptown Charlotte. Lowe's is the second-largest hardware chain in the U.S. behind The Home Depot.