Sprouts & Shutters: Castro Valley Family Hardware Business To Expand

The last few years haven't been painless, but Workbench True Value Hardware on Center Street has weathered the downturn. Now the family-owned business is poised to open a fourth location, according to second-generation owner Fred Nichandros.

The new store at 652 Main Street in downtown Pleasanton will join the Castro Valley store and two other locations: on Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton and on Las Palmas Avenue in Patterson.

True Value stores are independently-owned franchises and owners often have more than one location, Nichandros said.

He said the new Pleasanton location represented an opportunity to grow in the downtown while keeping open the store on Santa Rita that was the family's first shop, opened in 1970.

When the dust settles in Pleasanton, Nichandros said the family will revisit things at the Castro Valley location which it opened in 1985.

The Patterson store was opened in 1986.

Workbench has 35 employees in its three stores and will add at least 10 more when the new Main Street store opens, according to Pleasanton Weekly.com.

Nichandros said business slumped following the housing meltdown but the dip was not nearly so pronounced for him as for friends with furniture businesses or restaurants.

"Hardware is a little recession proof," said Nichandros, who grew up in Castro Valley and graduated Canyon High class of 1976, not long before the school was closed.

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