Harwich, Chatham Hardware Stores To Be Sold

Harwich Paint and Decorating, located along Route 137 in East Harwich, and Chatham Paint and Hardware, located on Main Street in downtown Chatham, are scheduled to be sold on Nov. 10.

 Both properties are owned by Paul and Lynn Fox of Harwich. The sale includes both the businesses and the real estate.

 The two hardware stores are being sold to GE Supplies, LLC, which owns 14 hardware stores in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including one hardware store in Mashpee. Its principal offices are in Westport. The GE Supplies investors in the purchase are Glenn Finkelstein and Edward Siegal.

“Their intent is nothing will be changing, the personnel has been rehired,” said Lynn Fox. “They are family to us and that was a concern. We wanted to find a buyer that treats the staff well.” 

“They are a really good fit for our staff and that was really important to us,” added Paul Fox. “The staff has been our best asset. So many customers comment on our employees.”

He said the new owners will operate the businesses in much the same way they are being currently run. They will continue as Ace Hardware stores, and the soon-to-be new owners plan to build on the present operations, Paul Fox said. 

There will be a little remodelling done to the Harwich store. The Chatham store was refreshed when the Foxes took ownership in 2021. The Chatham store opened in July 2022.

The Foxes made the decision to sell the stores so they can retire and spend more time with their five grandchildren. Paul Fox said GE Supplies learned the stores were going on the market by word of mouth through the Ace Hardware connections.

Paul Fox will go immediately into retirement. Lynn Fox said her portion of the operation centers around the Hunter Douglas window treatments and drapery department, and she will stay on to finish several ongoing projects. 

 The Foxes opened Harwich Paint and Decorating as an independently owned hardware store associated with Ace Hardware in 2007, relocating from a paint shop business in Orleans. They purchased the complex where the store is located at 181 Route 137 in 2007, according to town assessing records.

 The 26,728-square-foot building constructed in 1985 and located on a 1.938-acre parcel is anchored by Harwich Paint and Decorating. Other businesses located in the plaza include Twisted Turk Pizza and Masjah Center Fitness and Healing Arts. The assessed value of the property is $2,050,700.

The Terry’s TV and Appliances shop in the complex closed suddenly five months ago and remains empty. Lynn Fox said while they have had inquiries about leasing the space, GE Supplies’ management requested that the Foxes not rent it because they want to figure out whether they will need the space.

The Chatham Paint and Hardware property was purchased by PGF Realty, LLC in March 2021, according to town assessing records. The 8,031-square-foot building located at 624 Main St. sits on a 36,553-square-foot parcel. The building was constructed in 1920. The assessed value of the property is $2,438,100. 

Both businesses are independently owned. Ace Hardware is a cooperative purchase group that helps independent businesses join together to acquire goods at lower prices. 

The Foxes did not provide the sale prices on the two properties or the businesses.