JEFFERSONVILLE – Heuser {Hardware} is celebrating 100 years of enterprise in Jeffersonville with the brand new yr.
The ironmongery store at 523 Spring Avenue was opened in 1923 and has been by 11 homeowners within the 100 years.
In that point the shop has seen 4 bridges constructed, the Nice Melancholy, recessions, the Nice Flood of 1937 and, most not too long ago, the COVID pandemic.
All through all these hardships, the shop has all the time remained open.
“Like several enterprise, we’ve had our ups and our downs, however we’ve all the time been in a position to bounce again from them,” mentioned Tom Densford, Heuser {Hardware} co-owner. “COVID has clearly been a wrestle, however we’re sustaining. We’re hanging in there and nonetheless loving what we do daily.”
Tom and his brother, Invoice Densford, have owned the shop since 2007. They’ve been working on the retailer for the reason that Eighties. Tom began working on the retailer when he was 17, and Invoice began when he was 24.
Tom in contrast the shop to a basic retailer on the time they began. They bought sporting items, cookware, bottle cappers and even a tree faucet.
The brothers have been in a position to work their means as much as being co-owners with their time and expertise at Heuser {Hardware}.
“I wouldn’t need it every other means,” Tom mentioned. “It retains us shut as a result of we’re seeing one another daily. I’m grateful for that.”
Working their means as much as homeowners was difficult but in addition enjoyable, Invoice mentioned.
“Our bosses taught us from {hardware} to paperwork,” Invoice mentioned. “You’re not solely a {hardware} clerk, you bought to be a bookkeeper now. They taught us loads, and we had enjoyable doing it.”
Whereas the bridges have been being constructed, Invoice mentioned that a few of the employees got here and purchased supplies from the shop to place into the bridges.
The shop has been part of many traditions all through the years. Most not too long ago, they’d their Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve and served deep fried bratwurst and chili.
“We do the chili cookoff, not yearly, however a number of years we’ve performed it,” Invoice mentioned. “… Halloween within the park when it began, we gained the primary three or 4 years.”
All through the years, the shop has been in a position to increase into the buildings subsequent to it. With the expansions, the brothers have been in a position to promote extra items.
In 2018, a mural was painted in honor of the ironmongery store. It depicts all of the homeowners of Heuser {Hardware} standing by a piece truck for the shop. The mural is on the floodwall close to the Bristol car parking zone on west Riverside Drive and was painted by John Neal.
Wanting ahead to the way forward for the shop, the homeowners hope that it’s open and persevering with to serve the group.
“I hope it’s right here one other 100 years, promoting spacesuits and jet packs,” Invoice mentioned.