Tarzian Hardware, Since 1921

The story of Tarzian Hardware, like so many other mom and pop shops in this neighborhood and city, is a story of the American dream.

Charles Tarzian came over from Armenia as an infant, and after growing up in Brooklyn and getting married, he decided to go into the hardware business with his brother. They looked at a couple of locations, but finally settled on a storefront at the corner of Seventh Avenue and First Street. Tarzian Brothers Hardware and Appliances first opened its doors there in 1921 (the site today is a laundromat).

In 1929, they moved up the street to 193 Seventh Avenue, which today is the northernmost of the three storefronts currently occupied by the store.

"The only time we ever came close to closing down was right after the Depression, as World War II was breaking out," John Tarzian, the third-generation owner, told me.

On the verge of shuttering after taking a hit during the 30s, Charles and his wife Sophie were forced to devise a new tactic to bring people to the shop.

"Back during the war it was illegal to keep your lights on at night, so the German bombers wouldn't be able to see the city. Charles got a part-time job giving out tickets to those who left their lights on. There was a way around the ban, though. You could leave your lights on if you had heavy drapes and a fire bucket. So he directed them to Tarzian Hardware, of course," he said, laughing. "Business picked right back up."

Charles' son, Harry, took over after Charles retired in the 60s, and his son in law, John, runs the business today.

The store expanded into the full space in the 1960s, and in 1976 they opened Tarzian West across the street, which sells housewares and kitchen supplies. It’s no longer affiliated with that store, even though they still share a name.

In 1996 they underwent a thorough renovation, modernizing the store and installing a new sign. The only remaining relics of the past are the tin ceiling and an old rickety staircase leading down to the basement. 

Walking into the store today surrounds you with every possible item you can think of that might be useful in your apartment.

It may appear cluttered but if you look closely it's apparent that everything is carefully organized, from paint to showerheads to "granny carts." If you can't find something, the salespeople, many of whom have been working there for well over a decade, can point you in the right direction.

"There were seven hardware stores on Seventh Avenue in the 1960s, and today Tarzian is the only one left," said Tarzian. "We've worked really hard to make sure that we stick around."

Hard work, personalized service, quality merchandise, and maintaining strong ties to the community and its residents have kept the store open for 90 years.