Family-Run Hardware Store With 100-Year History Up For Sale In Waterbury

WATERBURY, CT — A family-run hardware store is currently up for sale for just under $2.8 million after a century in business in Waterbury.

Jeff Schmidt, a co-owner of Schmidt's and Serafine's Inc., recently confirmed the proposed sale, which includes the 7,920-square-foot hardware store and garden center and an adjacent 2,550-square-foot repair shop.

The two retail properties, located at 440 and 464 Chase Avenue, are currently being offered at $2.795 million, according to a real estate listing.

The store first opened in 1925 and has been located on Chase Avenue since 1959, according to Schmidt.

"We did dabble in other towns two or three times over the years," Schmidt said to Patch, "but it didn't work out too good and we just stayed here."

After 100 years of serving customers in Waterbury across four generations, Schmidt said the family is ready to see the store enter a new chapter as he and other family members get ready to retire.

"All of our children, they're all successful in their own right," Schmidt said, "but they don't want to be in the hardware business."

Schmidt was also quick to emphasize the store is not closing, rather the family is hoping to sell it to someone who would keep it running.

"If I can get one point across it's that we are not closing, we are for sale," Schmidt said. "Don't get me wrong, if we didn't get an offer within a specific amount of time, and we haven't even decided what that amount of time is, then we would have to look at other alternatives because I don't want to work forever, but it's not happening tomorrow. [Customers] will still be able to buy their tomato plants. It's a process."

He also noted many of his longtime employees, some of whom have worked at the store for 40 years and are now essentially family, would still be there to greet customers.

"We have a lot of employees that have been here for a long time," Schmidt said, "so people off the street would still see a lot of very familiar faces...the staff would be very recognizable."

The store's familial atmosphere also extends to its customers, many of whom have been coming into Schmidt's and Serafine's Inc. for years.

"I just recently delivered a gas grill to some guy who I had delivered one to 20 years ago," Schmidt said.

When word of the sale got out, Schmidt was quick to assure customers there is no need to panic.

"We appreciate all these customers over all these years because that's why we've been able to be here all these years," Schmidt said, "but also we just want to say to them 'calm down, we're not closing the door tomorrow,' it's just for sale."

After decades at the store, Schmidt said one of the most rewarding parts of carrying on the family business' 100-year history has simply been the gainful employment it has provided.

"You don't get rich in this business," Schmidt said, "but we were able to put our kids through school, eat good food, have a car, all own a home. None of us are rich, we don't have vacation homes or things like that, but we did alright. I put two kids through college."

He also noted the fun of being on the job has also been its own reward at times.

"We have fun every day...we always have a good time," Schmidt said. "It's not real hard, you just have to put a lot of hours in, that's all."

As they look toward a new chapter for the store, Schmidt noted he and his family have always loved providing a useful service for customers in Waterbury, a place they have called home since their youth.

It is their hope that when the store does sell, it will be in good hands, and customers will receive the same quality service they have come to expect when stepping inside Schmidt's and Serafine's Inc. throughout the past 100 years.

"All the customers come and in and say they'll be so sad to see us go, but hopefully we're not going," Schmidt said. "Hopefully the store will still be here, these people will still be here and hopefully someone will get it who understands that this is not Home Depot. This is a hardware store, it's a different tradition. We care about our customers, and it makes a difference."