NEW BERN - You see it everyday, big box retailers move in and small businesses move out. But that couldn’t be further from the truth for one family-owned store in the east. It’s a business that stood the test of time, meeting the needs of a community for more than a century. Nine on your side takes you inside this special store with a unique history.
Mitchell Hardware was founded in 1898 and sits on the corner of Craven and Front Streets, a staple in historic downtown New Bern. The Mitchell family owned it until 1987 when the remaining Mitchell became ill. Manager Greg Smith’s family then bought it, in effort to save the family-owned business.
"There was a tradition of having the downtown hardware store and of course, it would have been a great shame to lose that piece of downtown, the piece of fabric of downtown," Smith said.
It’s not your typical hardware store you think of nowadays, it’s much more. "A real hardware store would have a little bit of everything and that's what Mitchells still has and is proud to be able to provide you with hammers and nails but also the garden products and the housewares, what you need for cooking a big meal: a pot of crabs, or working in your garden, we even have hams hanging in the smokehouse," Smith said.
From those hammers to hams to lotions and soaps, gardening supplies and even seeds, Smith it’s this type of hometown business that attracts customers of all ages.
"Being able to say 'good morning' when you walk in the door and mean it, and we say 'may we help you' and we mean it and we're happy to help and we enjoy it." He says there’s still a place for small businesses in modern day America; he believes it’s what keeps America going. "The fact that you come in and go 'cool'. my favorite comment for someone to walk in the store and go 'cool' and think what a neat store," said Smith.
And it’s a store that Smith hopes will stand the test of time for another century or more.
"We truly mean that and you're always welcome in this store and in our community."
Since the store’s been in operation, it has moved four times, most recently to expand to fit even more unique items. But, it’s always on the same block on Craven Street.
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