Hardware Store Reopens Months After Car Crash, Fire In SMC

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A hardware store welcomed customers back to its Redwood City location, reopening Wednesday after a car crashed through the front of the Woodside Plaza store last December, triggering a fire that forced months of repairs.

The crash occurred on Dec. 15, 2025, when a vehicle barreled into the storefront of Hassett Ace Hardware, narrowly missing an employee, his young daughter, and a customer before striking butane tanks and igniting a fire. No one was injured. The store sustained extensive smoke, water, and inventory damage, the owner said.

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Two employees — Ricky Pera, 16, and Jose Manuel Urrea — were later honored by the Redwood City City Council for pulling the driver from the burning vehicle, helping put out the fire, and directing customers and staff to safety. Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos presented them with certificates of recognition at a January council meeting.

The rebuilt store features an updated floor plan, a new entrance, reinforced bollards along the exterior, and expanded services for homeowners, contractors, and business customers.

"This rebuild gave us the opportunity not just to repair the store, but to make meaningful improvements," owner Eric Hassett said.

Hassett Ace Hardware operates six Bay Area locations, including stores in Palo Alto, San Mateo, Carlmont, Half Moon Bay, and Pacifica.