Hardware store closes doors for the last time
Staff writer
Peabody Mayor Tom Spencer said Peabody Hardware’s final closing Friday was about more than the end of a historic business.
It was a sad goodbye to about Mark and Ginger Whitney as its owners.
“We understand what they mean to the community, and they’re well-liked,” Spencer said.
A potential purchase of the store fell through, and Mark is clearing out inventory to be sold.
“We don’t have a deadline, but we’re still trying to sell the building,” he said. “If the building sells, we’ll have a deadline at that point.”
Whitney plans to continue providing other services, like locksmithing, screen-window repair, and custom woodworking.
“You’re limited by time when you’re here all the hours we are, he said. “That aspect will be better for people once we clear up here.”
The store closed after 20 years under the Whitneys’ ownership, and there has been a hardware store in that location along Peabody’s Walnut St. since the latte-1870s.
Many in the community understand the Whitney’s decision to
retire, but the loss of a historic business is still deeply felt.
“It’s been operated as a hardware store since 1879, and with a dwindling population, it’s becoming harder to support a business of that nature,” Spencer said.
Mark and Ginger announced in March they would be retiring.
“We came to the realization that there are only so many hours in the week,” Mark said. “Where do you spend yours hours and make the most impact on those around you? We realized the retail side wasn’t something we wanted to continue in.”
Last modified June 6, 2019