Small Business Savvy: Owners of Towne Centre Hardware Sell a Bit of Everything With a Twist

The sign at Towne Centre Hardware in Lake Forest Park may include the word "hardware," and of course, the store sells tools and the like, but brothers Tim and Joe Uhrich are willing to sell just about anything their customers want.

The Uhrichs opened their store in Nov. 2009 at LFP Towne Centre during the depth of the recession but they are doing quite well, they say, thanks to a unique blend of products.

"We can put anything in here and get away with it," Tim Uhrich said. "We continually look to improve every department in the store as we see opportunities."

The store, which is 12,000 square feet, is big enough under Initiative 1183, the liquor privatization initiative, to sell hard liquor.

"When we get into a category, we give it our own spin on it," Tim Uhrich said. "We don't need to copy what Albertsons and Rite Aid do." 

The store sells several local and in-state brands such as Mischief whiskey, made in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood; and Dry Fly, whiskey, gin and vodka which comes from Spokane.

Besides selling things like hardware and paint, the store sells pet food and toys, arts and crafts products, bike accessories and canning supplies.

"You've got to listen to your market and be flexible," Tim said. "Adding on other businesses makes it more viable."

A hardware store is a good model for a community-based business, Joe Uhrich said. The store is an Ace Hardware, which operates as cooperative partnership rather than a franchise.

"It's not so affected by the Internet and big boxes," Joe said.

Both brothers, who grew up in Seattle and graduated from Bishop Blanchet High School and the University of Washington, have a combined 50 years of experience in retail. Joe Uhrich worked for Macy's, formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc. while Tim Uhrich worked in apparel for Seattle Pacific Industries. 

"We're familiar with how the business model works," Tim Uhrich said. "There's a lot of products here we're familar with."

There are competitors that sell hardware locally, from big-box Home Depot in Shoreline, to True Value Hardware in Mountlake Terrace, Pop & Tweedy in Lake City and McClendon's in Woodinville, but, "they're all different," Tim said.

The Uhrichs philosophy is to "do what you think is right, don't listen to anybody else," Tim said.

The store employs 15 people and the pair hope to open other similar businesses under this model.

"We employ people who know people in the community," Joe said.

The bottom line for the Uhrichs is to follow where the customers' demand leads them.

"We'll morph into what our community wants us to be," Tim said.