CRESTVIEW, Fla. — Crestview Plumbing & Hardware will close its doors Tuesday after 92 years in business.
People have come to the store over the years to buy hammers and nails — or just to chat about what is going on in their community.
The closing also closes a chapter of Crestview’s history.
Crestview Plumbing & Hardware opened in 1931.
“We’ve been here a long time and being established helps keep it,” owner Gary Ellis said.
Ellis has worked at the store since 1976 before becoming the owner in 2001.
“My father found this job for me — I actually hadn’t found a job for a month after school,” he said. “He said, ‘Come up to the hardware store, the Steele brothers need a man.”
“Working everyday, if you like your job it’s fun,” he added.
Ellis says when he announced he was retiring and the store was closing, people were actually mad at him.
WEAR News spoke with some customers who said that it’s upsetting to see the business close.
“It’s the hometown hardware store where you know everybody,” Brandon Ates said. “It’s sad to see it go.”
Ates has been going to the store with his family since he was a child .
He says the store is unique not only because you can find things you wouldn’t be able to at a bigger box store, but because of the service you get.
“You can walk in and talk to someone immediately rather than having to flag someone down or press a button to talk to someone,” he said. “It’s a community type store for the people here.”
Multiple customers say it’s not just the store they’ll miss, but Ellis himself. He answers their questions and makes sure they get what they need, even if it requires a special order.
“It happens all the time — we’re leaving tomorrow and I’ve got goods coming tomorrow for a family,” Ellis said. “They’re not desperate but they know if they don’t get it right here it’s gonna be a tougher find elsewhere.”
Crestview Plumbing & Hardware’s last regular day is Tuesday. A liquidation sale will be held three days a week over the next month .
Ellis said that a brewery might buy the building, but nothing is set in stone yet.
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