Whittemore Hardware Calling It Quits In Melrose

MELROSE, MA — One of Melrose's oldest stores is closing up shop next year. Whittemore Hardware, which has been in business for 96 years, will close in March, the Chamber of Commerce announced on its Facebook page Thursday.

Whittemore, located at 531 Main St., will have a major sale on its way out.

Dozens of comments on the Melrose Community Facebook page spoke of fond memories - as did some Patch staff members who grew up in the area.

"I would always shop on the 23rd or 24th of December, to find stocking stuffers for the entire family," one Facebook comment read. "I loved that I could literally find something for everyone."

Here are some other comments, used with permission:

• "Day one in town I went in, and Art greeted me as he continued to ever since with a 'hey kid, what can I get for ya?'. This town’s heartbeat will beat a little more quietly for sure."
• "This is a loss to our community. They always offer the best service, employ local youth, and have great advice. I’ve gone in looking for something specific which they did not have but then offered to order it for me, and afterwards always had it in stock. Top notch."
• "So sorry to hear that they’re closing. They’re the store that if you couldn’t find what you needed anywhere else, Whittemore had it."
• "I used to love bringing my two boys in there when they were small - they had a beautiful, fluffy cat who lived in the store!! I'm so sad to see it close!"
• "Whenever I mentioned needing something from Whittemore’s my dogs ears would perk up and he’d head for the back door. He loved to go there! He loved the smells and he loved Bea when she was there but he mostly loved the guys. We’re so sad about their closing."
• "On an exercise walk we stopped in to take a quick peek at snowblowers... ended up selecting one (one of the last in stock) then returned later with a credit card to pay. We had an event to get to but it was delivered to our home and stored under our porch by the time we got home! Great service, gonna miss Whittemore’s"
• "So sorry to see this store closing. We have no local hardware store around where I live in Saugus and so I would sometimes come over to Whittemore when I needed something. The people there were always very friendly and helpful."
• "We moved here a year ago and without this place, I would have been lost. I could walk up with two little kids in the stroller and get what I needed. I’m really sad it’s closing! My kids love the trains as well."

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