CHILLICOTHE— Earlier this year, Central Center Hardware closed down after serving the community for nearly 50 years. In an effort to ensure that the town had a local hardware store, Jared and Abbey Roese plan to open Chillicothe Hardware in the same location.
The pair first met while attending Ohio University together. They went on to start a family and help run Jerry’s Do It Center in Wellston. The store has been owned by Jared’s grandparents, Jerry and Charlotte Bobst, for many years.
As they looked to grow their business, they started visiting other hardware stores to see what was working, which is how they found themselves in the Chillicothe shop just as it was preparing to close. The pair says they know how important local hardware stores were to a community, and that thought was only solidified when they saw all of the comments online from locals who had memories from Central Center.
“We say it as an opportunity,” said Jared of the storefront opening.
After talking with the former owner of the store and the realtor in charge of the sale, they decided to reopen a hardware store in the same location. While Chillicothe Hardware will carry the hardware tools customers need, the new owners also plan on selling a range of tools like DeWalt and Milwaukee, lawn and garden items and an extended selection of paint.
Roese said working with the Wellston store will allow both businesses to have a wider selection and offer better deals. He expects the Chillicothe location to employ around 15 people.
Before they can reopen the doors, they will be remodeling the Chillicothe store, including the outside facade, the flooring inside and more. Once Chillicothe Hardware has been remodeled and reorganized, Jared and Abbey say they are excited to be part of the community.
The store is estimated to officially open in the early fall of this year. It will be located at 653 Central Center in Chillicothe.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: New hardware store to open in Chillicothe’s Central Center
Reporting by Shelby Reeves, Chillicothe Gazette / Chillicothe Gazette
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