A hardware store in San Francisco’s West Portal is closing its doors after 88 years in business.
Papenhausen Hardware made the announcement, saying it could no longer afford to stay open.
Karl Aguilar walked into this hardware store 29 years ago as a student at San Francisco State University looking for a job. But in 2018, Aguilar became co-owner and thought he would retire there.
Aguilar said it wasn’t just one thing that led to the closure, but two fires and the pandemic hit his business big time. He estimates that sales fell by about 30% in the first year of the pandemic.
“By the second year we realized it was time to sell and the emotional side of it,” Aguilar said. “What can we do? All the questions and sleepless nights happened then.”
Papenhausen Hardware started its bankruptcy sale on Saturday. Many of the shelves are now empty as customers stop by for their last visit to their local hardware store.
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“We thought there would be an increase in business, but it’s been a crushing avalanche of non-stop business for four days now,” said Matt Rogers, co-owner of Papenhausen Hardware. “So it’s impressive. Too truly moving.’
“Has it been overwhelming in a good way?” Aguilar added. “The community is deeply upset. They wish this wasn’t the case and people have come out of the closet to come up with ideas and ways to keep us here, but the financial reality is that we just can’t stay. “
After 88 years in the West Portal neighborhood, generations of families rely on this store for basic hardware supplies.
Customers like Lee Bradley said the closure is a huge loss to the community.
“Terrible news, really,” Bradley said. ‘Destruction. It’s about convenience. It’s nice to have a shop, just off the street, where you can buy all kinds of stuff. Whatever you want.’
But as customers’ shopping habits have changed post-pandemic, Papenhausen isn’t alone in struggling to keep its doors open.
Aguilar hopes people realize how important community support is to keep small businesses open.
“The only thing people should take from this is whether it’s a bookstore or a coffee shop or maybe a fabric store that you love,” he said. “I guarantee they are struggling. If you want to see them there, you can support them and every dollar makes a difference.”
Papenhausen Hardware is expected to close on December 31, but if supplies run out, the store may close sooner.
