Iconic Bellmore, N.Y., Hardware Store Closing After Nearly 100 Years
BELLMORE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Roy Weinman is a fixture in his Bellmore, N.Y., community and has never missed a day on the job. But after 100 years, competition is driving him out and change is coming.
As CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan reported, Weinman will celebrate his 90th birthday next week—the same day his historic, century-old hometown hardware store, Weinman's Hardware, closes its doors for good.
"I'm 90, it's time. Time for me to retire," he said.
At the hardware store, patrons get personal attention.
"He's fixed screens for us over the years, lawnmowers. He's a great humanitarian," customer Kathleen Rollando said.
"When you come in here, you know you are getting a square deal," Rich Rollando said. "Roy is creative, nothing like a box store."
"The type of guy he is, always willing to help, where the box store couldn't do that. We're going to miss him," another customer, Mike Giangrande, said.
No longer can the mom-and-pop store on Main Street compete with the big guys; Weinman says the younger generation prefers the "big box" convenience of stores like Home Depot.
"Selling the end of the era," Weinman told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.
Iconic Bellmore, N.Y., Hardware Store Closing After Nearly 100 Years
The Ivy League graduate and WWII veteran says although he'd love to pass the torch on to his children and grandchildren, he understands their reluctance.
"It is a little upsetting because I grew up here my whole life, my dad too. This was my grandfather's store so we had a long history here, almost 100 years," Weinman's son, David Weinman, said.
The Weinmans moved to Bellmore after almost eight years at their first location.
"Bellmore and all the environments around here were just blossoming with new buildings," Weinman told Rivera.
With no one willing to risk taking over a small town hardware store, the end of the 100-year era comes Monday, September 15. That day has been declared "Roy Weinman Day" in Nassau County.
After the store closes, Weinman's son David plans to open a small repair show across town—which Roy says he's not too old to help at.
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