The Hardware Center in Paoli, Pa., pictured on May 3, 2024, has become a staple in the Chester County community, and customers say they feel a sense of loss at news of its closure next month.Betsy Funkhouser Ryan spotted Steve Scartozzi from across the room. In her hometown hardware store, surrounded by half-full shelves, she waited for Scartozzi to finish chatting with another customer, then asked if they could take a quick selfie, one she would text to her five siblings, all big fans.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Greg Scartozzi, who met his wife, Sue, working in the toy section more than 50 years ago. “So many people come up and ask: ‘Where are you going to go?’”The store’s last day, June 3, will be an emotional one for the Scarzottis, whose parents, Cordine “Cordi” and Marie, started the business in a nearby Lancaster Avenue storefront after Cordi returned from World War II.
It is part hardware store, part garden center, part toy store, with a floor dedicated to each. In the summer, they sold vegetables out front . By Halloween, In its upstairs toy section, Big Smile Toys, longtime customers have fond memories of buying presents for their children and their grandchildren, drawn to its large selection, old-fashioned feel, and free gift wrapping.
“You get to know the people. The customer service is something you don’t find” at other stores, she said in the parking lot, looking up at the storefront draped with a yellow banner reading “Retirement Sale.” At the Hardware Center, “they know you by name.”It was propelled by the Scartozzis’ sheer force of will, strong customer allegiance, a wide and ever-changing selection of products, and a bit of good fortune.