hard work
the old
hardware store Story by Connie Las Schneider Photos courtesy of Terri Cecil
Crowded to the rafters with merchandise and local folk who sat around talking politics, the old fashioned hardware store is just a memory in most urban areas where big box stores have forced out their smaller competitors. Fortunately, Clarksville still has Cecil Hardware. While big chain stores like 84 lumber and Ace/True Value stores have come and gone in Clarksville, Cecil’s mom-an- pop operation has been serving customers for 50 years with hard to find parts and good advice.“If you can take 5 minutes out of your day and help a customer fix a part and save them money, they’ll be a customer for life,” said Kent Cecil, a second generation hardware man. Kent started learning the hardware business as a three year old when his
parents, Jack and Katie Cecil, bought an existing hardware business on Main Street back in 1960 after Jack graduated from Arkansas Tech University. Since then, the family has relocated the business one block away to 515 Sevier Street and now has three generations working at the store. Although Jack Cecil died in 2006, Katie still works at the store along with Kent, his wife Terri, their daughter Amber and son Chase and his wife Derenda. While Kent doesn’t remember the early days in the family business as he didn’t
start full-time until he graduated from the University of the Ozarks in 1980, his sharpas-a tack mother has vivid memories. A great-grandmother herself, Katie is still actively involved in the family business and can usually be found helping customers and giving good advice. “A lot of water had gone under that bridge in 50 years! I remember when all the stores in Clarksville used to close every Wednesday afternoon,” said Katie with a smile. “In earlier days, we used an old punchkey cash register. I think it’s still around here somewhere,” said Katie, looking over the store packed literally to the ceiling with merchandise and treasures. Every square inch seems to be filled with some sort of product or tool. The back wall of the store is lined with antique tools, many donated by loyal customers.
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4200 East Main • Russellville November 2010