Harper Hardware Co., a Richmond institution for more than 113 years, is closing its store and discontinuing its retail operations. Owner Charles Harper III said Tuesday that he has sold the building at 18th and East Broad streets that has housed the business since 1981. He plans to reopen this year in a different location serving only commercial and industrial clients.
21 comments
I have wondered how long it would take before a developer offered him enough money and he would sell that building. More condos coming to that area? Is Duke’s next?
Lowes and Home Depot strike again. The neighborhood hardware store is a relic of the past. They simply can’t compete. Sad…..
Sad, I agree. But at least there’s Pleasants still around, one down at Laburnum & Wmbg. Rds. and the other on Broad not too far away. I wonder what will happen to the Harper’s building? Taken over by one of the condo developments?
There’s also a Pleasant’s on Patterson.
Christo, I don’t think this was a case of Home Depot and Lowe’s striking as much as it was a combination of the location being more valuable to a developer and Harper’s wanting a simpler business to run. For all practical purposes, they’ve been running a contractor only shop for a while with the hours they keep.
I would have loved to have a hardware shop that was open when I need stuff, typically 7-10PM on weeknights and all day weekends. Harper’s never seemed to be open when I needed them so I would keep driving to Lowe’s. On the few occasions where they were open, they always got my business and I suspect the same for most folks around here. The nearest Lowe’s and Home Depot are both far enough away to make driving over there a nuisance.
All that said, I can’t blame Harper’s for choosing the business model they did. Contractors are a lot easier to deal with and probably allow the owner to keep a more normal schedule.
It sure would be great if we can get some retail in that space. We’re getting more than enough housing lately. Eventually those folks will need somewhere to shop right?
I saw a “business closing” for lease sign go up on the corner of the building a few months ago and was hoping it wasn’t true. Guess it is. I know times change, but this is sad. I’ve always loved that building, too!
I tried to shop Harper Hardware a number of times but it was always closed (typically weekends). As much as I wanted to support the local business, I was forced to visit Lowe’s.
Pleasants is owned and operated by Ace Hardware. Almost as big as Lowes and Home Depot.
Don’t Fret, Alex. The population density in Shoc/CH seems to be steadily increasing. New businesses will come.
I’m super stoked about the new ABC store and burger restaurant on Main Street. I also heard that Globehopper may extend its business hours to cater to all of the new residents.
Considering the still sluggish economy, we are fortunate that our neck of the woods is experiencing exciting new development and growth.
@#6
The sign says “Business Relocating” and is a “For Sale” sign. I feel like it’s been there for over a year.
Gosh, wouldn’t it be wonderful if a small market (perhaps one that specialized in fresh produce) took over that space? I mean, all those people in the McDonald’s apartments will occasionally want something other than fast food, right?
JT, Ace is a co-op that supports locally owned hardware stores. The member stores receive advertising support and get additional purchasing power by banding together but they are still local businesses. To my knowledge Pleasant’s continues to be Richmond owned and is probably our last big local hardware store in the area.
I’ll continue to do my part to support them when I can, particularly since they do have consumer friendly hours and a good selection. Pleasant’s also has really good customer service (something Harper’s was pretty mediocre on in my few visits there).
Justin, agree 100%. Loving’s is right across Broad and unless they’ve changed, they’d be a good source for produce but only sell wholesale sizes. If someone wanted to, it would be pretty simple to buy the produce in large sizes from Loving’s and break it down to consumer sizes.
We do have a Farmer’s market on 17th but that is a joke these days. Short of reclaiming that space for its original purpose, we could at least have something in the area where that used to be.
Pleasants is still relatively local. While they are a part of the Ace “franchise”, Pleasants is actually owned by CF Sauer (the spice company)
Starbucks.
Total bummer, I went there quite a bit. Goodbye good advice and complementary popcorn. Hello instant gratification and big bizz. I guess all good things have to end sometime…or adapt.
@#11 Will they sell beer and wine to go?
The last city assessment was $642,000. Considering it was bought for 90K 30 years ago I’d say they had quite a reward for all their years there.
I’d like to put in another vote of support for Pleasant’s. Every time I have been there, the level of customer service has far exceeded virtually all other establishments I’ve visited over the years. I tried to go there a couple of weeks ago, and they were closed for inventory. I went to Lowe’s instead, and it just served as a great reminder as to why I avoid that place like the plague and as a stark contrast.
I did successfully find a snow shovel there last year when things were nasty, I’m sad to see them go. Actually, I’m liking Pleasant’s, I can never find anything there myself but the staff are more than happy to help.
About the Farmer’s Market, if you head out toward Mechanicsville on 360 you’ll find the Farm to Family market, they’re open until 7p weeknights and all the food is local.
saw a sign more a medical services center moving into the old Harper’s Hardware building (“We LOVE Medicare!”). Anybody know the story?
some quick research shows JMCG RICHMOND LLC, a Florida based company, bought the property in May from Harper for $1.4 million.