Locally owned hardware stores are hard to come by these days. This industry is continually shrinking because of the enormous amounts of pressure places like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Harbor Freight create. Keeping prices competitive, for a long time, has been nearly impossible. And there’s no chance we could ever maintain an inventory of that size. So why did our family decide to purchase the hardware store? And what sets us apart from the rest of the industry? 

Nearly two decades ago, my dad had a brilliant idea: that they should buy Werkheiser’s Pro Hardware. And my mom, in a moment of weakness, thought it was a fantastic idea. Jumping forward a few years, things began to fall apart in a major way. It boils down to this: some extremely poor financial decisions nearly bankrupted our family. Because I was so young, I don’t personally remember much of this period in our lives.

Life seemed normal to me, for the most part. Things felt grey and cloudy. I remember silence, the kind you hear before a storm. But in my eyes, the storm never came. In reality, things were slowly falling apart all around us.

Three months ago during breakfast my parents told me things I never knew. The emotion in their stories would tug on the heartstrings of anyone. Even now, as I write this in the comfort and silence of my room, I feel empathetic for them. I’ve lived my life surrounded by nothing but overabundant love and support from my parents. Every need has always been met. There hasn’t been a single moment I’ve ever gone hungry, been abused, or otherwise. Yet I was virtually unaware of the towering weight they themselves were under. 

Gratitude is an emotion I struggle with. Appreciation for the ways they have provided for us has been hard to express, which is one of the hardest things for me to admit. Where would I start? My words wouldn’t come close to expressing enough meaning for the pain they’ve endured.

The store has had no shortage of hard times, but the process has been overwhelmingly instrumental in the development of my parents personally, financially, and spiritually. It has made them into the people they are today. And as a result, has made me who I am.

Our local community of the tristate area has supported us through all times: good and bad. We have an extremely loyal group of customers that appreciates the value we are able to provide to them. It’s one of the only reason we’ve been able to keep the lights on and the doors open. 

This is the story that most people never get to hear. My family doesn’t look back with admiration at those hard times. They remember the emotions they felt: the tears they cried, the words they said, and the sleep they lost. But I see the store through a different lens. I see the good that came out of that period of time. And I believe that that story should be told. Not for self-admiration. Not for pride’s sake. But to show what sets us apart.