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 THE GAZETTE. February-March 2008 • Year 14, Number 1. Newhall Hardware Quits. By PATTI RASMUSSEN Gazette Correspondent. From the Newhall Hardware Web page: Dear friends and loyal customers,And with that, an era comes to an end. It's hard to imagine the town of Newhall without its hardware store. From the school districts and movie industry to businesses and the average homeowner, Newhall Hardware has always been more than nuts and bolts. It is about friends, family, and that ever elusive plumbing part that, if not in stock, owner Vic Feany or his staff would find for you. It is customer service — something that is missing from the big box stores that are springing up all over Santa Clarita Valley. People like to say, "If only these walls could talk." That would be so true at Newhall Hardware when it comes to the history of Santa Clarita. From its earliest days in 1947 when Newhall Hardware catered to the horse farms and family-owned businesses, the store has grown and changed with the times. Feany has been at the helm of the store for the past ten years, and with the redevelopment of the downtown area on track, he has been excited about the changes that have been visualized. He serves on the Newhall Redevelopment Committee, and he and his staff have enjoyed being involved in all the activities taking place in Old Town such as the Fourth of July Parade and December holiday festivities. "It's a terrible thing, and we've lost page in the history of Newhall," said City Councilwoman Laurene Weste. "I'm sorry he couldn't hold on." Weste, a resident of Newhall since the early 1960s, has been a huge proponent of the revitalization of the downtown area. Feany and the rest of the staff at Newhall Hardware are the type of individuals who roll up their sleeves and work tirelessly to volunteer for community events, she said, including keeping the sidewalks clean and the street plants watered. "We hope we can bring back some of the things we've lost — the little theater, the quaint restaurants and the little hardware store. That's got to be the goal," Weste said. "As people repopulate the older areas of town, they will embrace the special, unique character of the past." For now, it's about economics. And in this day and age, you might as well add convenience, because there is a big-box hardware store on just about any corner of town, and they always have plenty of parking. It's a sad time for Newhall. Newhall Hardware will be missed. ©2008, Old Town Newhall USA. All rights reserved. |
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