A Moorestown Business That Makes Community a Priority

Ask most Moorestown residents to name a place that signifies the spirit and personality of the town, and many will list Moorestown Hardware—the beloved general store-style hardware supply nestled in the heart of the township in a historic building on Mill Street.

A visit to the store is like stepping back in time to the kind of friendly place where you can find just about anything, get answers to questions, and feel genuinely welcome.

Owners Pete and Julie Bender don’t see their store as a competitor to “big box” hardware merchandizers—those outlets serve their purpose. Instead, the Benders seek to be the home-town source for countless indispensable items in a place that is reliably helpful, convenient and just plain fun to visit.

Old fashioned music and an old TV set with a loop of vintage shows add nostalgic atmosphere while customers browse aisles loaded with modern merchandise stacked on wooden flooring laid in 1879.

Everything from tools to light bulbs, lawn and snow equipment to birdseed, lighting supplies to air filters are available—or you can run in to get a key made, an item repaired, or buy a jar of specialty pickles and a pocketful of the counter candy.

The charm and dependable service and selection are enough to set the store apart, but Moorestown Hardware goes beyond being a great small business in Moorestown.

The owners are also committed to using their store as a source for good in the community, and continuously donate resources and assistance to the township and non-profits throughout Moorestown.

It is this commitment to the community that has earned Moorestown Hardware a Spotlight Award from Moorestown Business Association.

Both of the Benders grew up in Moorestown, and returned after starting careers in retail management to raise their family here.

They have made it a point to connect with and support a variety of community organizations and initiatives, including dozens of youth athletic leagues, local churches, holiday parades, the Nipper Program, and township organizations such as Sustainable Moorestown and the Moorestown Community House, to which it donates all the lights for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting.

After November’s fire at Moorestown Community House, Moorestown Hardware set up donation jars on its counters and also contributed 10 percent of their profits from the recent Small Business Saturday toward the restoration of the center.

They also supply the luminaries for Moorestown’s Candlelight Night, adding a festive glow to the winter holiday event enjoyed by almost everyone in town. In addition, Moorestown Hardware is the place residents can go to recycle batteries and old Christmas lights, and serves as a repository for worn American flags.

Gestures like these reflect the philosophy behind the way the Benders run their business and the value they place on the being a part of a community in which, notes Pete Bender, there is an “undercurrent of fellowship” that binds the town.

This mindset is carried out each day in the store, where the Benders and their staff make every attempt to connect with customers on a personal level and offer solutions to their problems.

“We are lucky to have the opportunity to touch people in a positive way every day—it’s a privilege to be a part of their lives,” explain the owners. And Moorestown residents are fortunate to have the Benders and Moorestown Hardware in their midst.

The MBA initiated its Spotlight program as a means to highlight local businesses that are making a positive impact on the community Business owners and residents are invited to contact the MBA to share information about initiatives they have taken or businesses they know that have taken measures to improve Moorestown.

Photo (L to R): Pete Bender, Julie Bender, MBA Vice President Steven Pazienza, and MBA President Don Powell in Moorestown Hardware Store. Photo credit: Tom Sheckels.