NEWHALL HARDWARE:
The Only Real Hardware Store in Santa Clarita

By Viki Black

    From pneumatic staplers to chain saws, pipe threaders to a great variety of valves, thousands of types of fasteners to pool supplies ... whether a homeowner or an electrician, you'll find your hardware needs satisfied at Newhall Hardware.

    Located at 24372 San Fernando Road in Old Town Newhall, they've occupied the same location for more than 50 years and were part of the landscape as far back as 1947. The store was built and run by Don Guglielmino until recently when he retired and handed over the business to his store manager of 25 years, Victor Feany, in 1998. Vic has maintained the same level of personal service to the customers, quality and variety in merchandise and appeal to homeowners and professional plumbers, carpenters, painters and electricians alike.

    You can spend hours walking up and down the aisles of the store finding items you "can't live without." Have you ever thought about Christmas shopping in a hardware store? Why not try it this year at Newhall Hardware? You'll find charming old-fashioned mailboxes, interesting weather vanes and small appliances and crockery for your kitchen, to name a few.

    Newhall Hardware is a virtual museum, an experience. Start by taking a handful of peanuts from the old barrel near the cashier and then roam up and down the aisles. You'll enjoy the old iron kitchen stove like you saw in your grandmother's house, an antique brass cash register and other memorabilia. Eat your hears out — those are a few items not for sale.

    Today Vic Feany is the brains behind the business. He goes through the agony of inventorying the thousands of pieces of merchandise that a complete hardware supplier needs to offer his clientele. He is assisted by a capable staff of nine full-time employees and three part-timers, including Cisco, who speaks Spanish to his Hispanic patrons.

    Feany is a true believer in Old Town Newhall. He understands and respects its roots, its rich heritage and interesting history, and wants to see it immortalized through a successful revitalization effort. Although the hardware business is a tough one, he enjoys competition from other hardware stores. Despite the setbacks of losing the nursery business, and the need for more customer parking, he is the "pied piper" for fellow downtown merchants. Without any fanfare, he paints out graffiti on downtown buildings, hoses down the sidewalk of his store and cleans the bronze saddles in the sidewalk, encouraging neighboring merchants to do the same.

    Vic was one of the first members of the Newhall Redevelopment Committee and has now joined the Old Town Newhall Association Steering Committee. Quoting from one of Vic's Newhall Hardware newsletters, one store visitor said, "There is no excuse to live in the city of Santa Clarita and not visit Newhall Hardware. You do not have to buy ... just stop in and visit, bring your kids, call it a history lesson! Go to Newhall Hardware. They will have it. I looked everywhere else first and then I came to Newhall Hardware. I should have gone there first!"