OB Hardware to celebrate 105 years with community appreciation event

One of the last independent, family-owned hardware stores in San Diego, the mom-and-pop shop at 4871 Newport Ave. is holding a customer and community appreciation event from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22. There will be live music, free activities, limited-edition merchandise, and more.

Opened in 1919, the old-fashioned hardware store carries just about everything you could need for your home or garden. The list includes tools, gardening, plumbing, and electrical supplies, along with paints.

A cornerstone within the beach community for the past 105 years, OB Hardware employs local staff and is homegrown right down to its everyday hardware and household items. There is also a custom screen shop and organic gardening space in the rear.

Purchased in 2021 by Jenae and Joe Kuchman, this family-run shop has stood the test of time with a local following and community support. Of how she and Joe got involved in the hardware trade, Jenae Kuchman said, “The store had been for sale for quite some time and we were interested in owning our own business. We wanted to explore the opportunity.”

Jenae Kuchman said they’d become very familiar with the hardware shop having remodeled a house a couple of years prior. “We were in here all the time getting the little screws, the little nails,” she noted.

What was the appeal of OB Hardware? “Just the community feel of it,” replied Jenae. “We felt like every town needs a hardware store. We’d honestly inquired about it at first out of pure curiosity. We met with the owner and, one thing led to another, and – here we are.”

Was the business what they expected? “It’s been a little more challenging in this day and age going up against the corporations,” said Jenae Kuchman adding, “The more I dove into this world – the more I learned how hard it is to compete with them.”

A small independent hardware store can’t compete with the corporate giants on price. But they can compete on a more personal level. “For us, it’s about the customer service,” said Jenae Kuchman. “That’s not just a line. It is true, how important it is to keep that hometown feel, creating that community feel and making sure that we stock what our customers are asking for.”

The previous owners had expanded the garden section in the back of the store and Jenae Kuchman noted they’ve “kept that going because it’s quite popular.”

Of the purpose of their anniversary party, Jenae Kuchman said, “We’re trying to just build some community spirit and say thank you to the community for keeping us in business for this long.”

She added they’ll have some activities for the kids on Sept. 22 as well as drinks and light snacks for the adults. OB Hardware’s clientele is largely local including a lot of property managers and tradespeople like plumbers, who find the store’s location convenient and close by.

“We do get quite a lot of repeat business from the professionals and the contractors who are doing business around town,” she said. “But we need to keep our community base coming back. I like to say that we have a little of a lot. We have a little bit of everything for those moments where you just need to grab something real quick and pick up the necessities.”

One of the hottest-selling items in OB Hardware might surprise you.

“An elephant watering can is one of the most popular items we sell, probably because it’s unique and cute,” Jenae Kuchman said pointing out that hardware essentials, like duct tape and glues, always sell well. “When we get the big rains, we stock up on tarps and sandbags. We try to keep track of what’s happening in the world and around us,” she said.

OB HARDWARE

Where: 4871 Newport Ave.

What: Community appreciation event from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Contact: 619-223-3083.