It’s Hammer Time

Early last year when Charleston True Value hardware store on Wappoo Road shuttered it’s doors after half a century in business, many in West Ashley mourned. Not only was it closer for a lot of people than dueling big box home improvement giants Lowes and Home Depot, but the small hardware stores like Charleston True Value also offered a more personal experience.
Many feared the days of having a local hardware store were long gone. But then Lat Purser & Associates, Inc. (LPA) recently announced it will open West Ashley True Value in the Ashley Oaks Plaza on the corner of Ashley River and Wappoo roads, about a quarter of a mile down the street from the old Charleston Hardware. The much-anticipated hardware store is slated to open in November at the shopping center, which is undergoing a multimillion-dollar reinvention and redevelopment.
“The City of Charleston is committed to revitalizing West Ashley in a way that enhances our neighborhoods and supports local businesses,” said Mayor John Tecklenburg. “During recent community meetings, City staff repeatedly heard from residents that they wanted a neighborhood hardware store, and due to their feedback, we will now have a locally-owned True Value to help meet the needs of our residents in West Ashley.”
All True Value stores are independently owned and operated, and the brand itself is centered on the strong relationships within the communities that each store serves. In an age of big box retail chains, True Value believes that customers still value a neighborhood hardware store that offers a wide variety of quality products, expert advice and exceptional service.
“This community has so many great retail stores,” says store owner Waylon Cain, a lifelong Edisto resident and graduate of College of Charleston. “The purpose of West Ashley True Value is to fill the void for a local ‘One Stop Shop’ small business.”
The reinvention of Ashley Oaks Plaza includes a redesigned façade, new dining and gathering areas, upgrades to landscaping, parking lot, driveways, infrastructure, signs, and additional enhancements to visibility and accessibility.
“Local partnerships are critical to the success of the new and improved Ashley Oaks,” according to Jimmy Penman, director of retail leasing at LPA, and the addition of West Ashley True Value to the mix, “reinforces the company’s commitment to providing the true wants and needs of the West Ashley community.”
West Ashley True Value is targeting a November opening, while completion of the redevelopment of Ashley Oaks Plaza is slated for next year.