New business spotlight on Ficks Hardware

WATSONTOWN - John Ficks describes his business as a place where a customer can buy just about anything they need for their home.

"People can come in and say, 'It's a real hardware store.' " he said.

Ficks Hardware, 759 Susquehanna Trail, just opened in September, but it carries a whole line of hardware merchandise, he said.

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MIKE?REUTHER/Sun-Gazette
John Ficks checks his merchandise at Ficks Hardware in Watsontown.

A look around the store would seem to confirm Ficks' statement.

On the shelves and in the aisles of the store can be found shovels, buckets, tools, plumbing fixtures, lawn care equipment, paint, and numerous other items.

"You can get stone and gravel and mulch and lawn care products," Ficks said. "We have a nice automotive section. We are very proud of our plumbing supplies. We have a fairly extensive houseware department."

Window and screen repair, blade sharpening and keymaking are among the services offered.

"We refill propane. We do paint matching," he said.

In essence, it's a "full hardware store," according to Ficks.

Ficks talked a little about how his store came about.

He said former employees of Allen's True Value Hardware Store, approached him about starting up another hardware business at the site.

Ficks had bought the property after True Value closed.

"We had asked him what he was going to do," recalled store manager Kathi Wertman. "It was really a mutual thing."

Ficks doesn't seem to have any regrets.

He likes the location too and is comfortable with the store's large floor space.

"I think we are just the right size," he said. "We have an adequate amount of parking which is what people like."

Eleven people are employed by the store, many of whom worked for True Value.

"We are seeing a lot of old customers from when it was True Value," Wertman said. "And it's home to us, so it's great to be back."

A grand opening is set for Oct. 20 and 21.