One of San Francisco’s icons is soon to shut down permanently as the 118-year-old business fails to keep standing against tough competition from larger retailers. Pacific Heights Hardware has reportedly been struggling for years as the business began costing more than it earned. The neighborhood has faced another change in recent years as locals share their disappointment over the closing of the neighborhood staple.
Highlights
- Pacific Heights Hardware in San Francisco is to shut down after 118 years in business permanently.
- The owners have announced the closure, with a clearance sale to empty their inventory.
- The store was often crowned an icon of the neighborhood.
Pacific Heights Hardware Closes After 118 Glorious Years
After 118 years as a neighborhood staple in San Francisco, where one can find everything they need, Pacific Heights Hardware is saying its final goodbyes. In an interview with SFGATE, an employee of the store, Lisa Schmid, shared that foot traffic has been consistently slow in the store. Meanwhile, the locals are also sharing their regret over not being able to keep this century-old store running due to the convenience offered to them through chain stores.
Failed Post-Pandemic Recovery
While business had long been slow at Pacific Heights Hardware, the pandemic created another challenge. It shut down many retail businesses and smaller stores. Though Pacific Heights Hardware continued to struggle, it could not catch up with the large retailers who created an online presence and increased convenience for buyers.
Struggles Against Tough Competition
One of the biggest challenges faced by Pacific Heights Hardware has been large retailers like Home Depot and Ace Hardware. These stores provided customers with convenience and a good parking space, thus becoming the first choice among buyers when they needed to pick up something. Meanwhile, local businesses such as this continue to struggle, making it hard for the owners to keep going.
Declining Revenue Despite Positive Feedback
Pacific Heights Hardware is known to hold up the charm of the neighborhood, evoking nostalgia and warmth among longtime customers. The owner, Ammar Swalim, has also made a name for himself in the community, while the employees are well-appreciated for their knowledge and friendliness. But despite being the place where everyone can find everything they need, the revenue generated isn’t enough to keep the business running.
Amid the popularity of online shopping and chain stores, Pacific Heights Hardware struggled to generate enough income to keep the store running.
“We just didn’t have a lot of people coming by, and so it was just costing us more money than we were getting,” Schmid shared in a phone interview with SFGATE.
Final Goodbye With a Clearance Sale
As the store prepares to shut down its business, they are now holding a clearance sale with deals like buy one, get one, 50% off on selected products, and more. After the going-out-of-business sale began, locals have been visiting the store to show their gratitude and express their regret. As the community gathers to bid farewell to the store one last time, Pacific Heights Hardware will shut down its business by the end of this month.
