Local hardware store continues rich history

By Benjamin Hannur
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Local business is the heart of Northfield. The continued survival and prosperity of these small businesses helps to ensure the well-being of the community and the continued existence of Northfield's small-town environment.

The Ace hardware store in Depot Square is part of this heritage, and Dave Fernandez and his family have owned and operated it for the past 47 years. Fernandez Ace hardware store has been located in the same building in Depot Square for about 100 years. The store wasn't always owned by the Fernandez family, though.

"My father bought it in 1955," said Dave Fernandez, who, along with his brother, took over from their father and now run the store. Fernandez can trace the store's owners back to the early 1900s, but before that, the store's origins are a mystery.

"In 1989 we converted from Fernandez Family Hardware to Fernandez Ace Hardware," said Fernandez, adding that now that the store uses Ace as a supplier, they can provide customers with a better variety of products. People have searched all over the state, only to find what they are looking for at Fernandez Ace Hardware, according to Fernandez.

Even though there are other large hardware stores in neighboring towns and cities such as Montpelier and Barre, Fernandez's doesn't have a problem getting business.

"We are here, we have been here. We have been established for 47 years, and people in town know us, and if we weren't doing a good job, we wouldn't be here for 47 years," said Fernandez. "We have good products, great pricing, and great service, so we find that stores outside of town, even in town, don't really give us much competition."

Norwich students provide the store with a good portion of its business; Fernandez sharpens skates, sells hockey sticks, and many other sporting goods.

"I'll stop by the store quick to check if it has what I need. Most of the time it does, except for lumber," said Rachel Gibbs, an architecture major from Clifton Park, N.Y.

Northfield provides the store with many of its customers. "I have to say all the contractors in town provide us with business," said Fernandez

The store offers so much variety of products that it seems crowded inside.

Fernandez and his brother have thought, and continue to think, about moving or building a new store to reduce the crowding.

But Fernandez is content with the store as it is."With the amount of business Northfield has to offer, the only question in my mind would be if I were to go build a huge new building and get a mortgage from the bank, would there be enough business in Northfield to warrant that?"

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