PETERSEN'S HARDWARE

Petersen's

hardware

Petersen’s Hardware owner Darren Long is not related to the Petersen’s, but in a way, he is family.

The Petersen family opened the South Windsor hardware store in the 1960s and ran it for more than two decades, said Long, selling it to a longtime employee who started working there in high school.

Long also began working at Petersen’s while in high school. He started out sweeping floors and stocking shelves in 1985 at age 16 and continued to work there after graduating South Windsor High School in 1987.

“I became the first full-time employee,” he recalled. “The owner, Kevin, said ‘stick with it and I’ll sell it to you one day’.”

That day came in 2019, 34 years after Darren started at Petersen’s Hardware.

Over the years as the Store Manager, Long learned a lot about running the store. But there was still a learning curve once he took over as the owner. Long learned about the back office and operations

aspects of the business. He dove in and quickly figured out the computer systems, more about managing inventory and about paying taxes.

Petersen’s Hardware started out as a True Value store and remains one today, along with being a Do It Best store. Having these two companies as suppliers helped his business maintain inventory during the pandemic. “We were able to keep items in stock,” he said. “We have a large selection and a lot of products people want.”

Being a neighborhood style store makes it easy for customers to find what they need quickly. And if they are unsure what they need, Darren and his staff can help. A lot of times, customers ask specifically for Darren. They have known him for years and rely on his expertise. Long said over the years he became pretty handy, using the products in the store on his home projects to become more knowledgeable for his customers. And his knowledge is widespread. Long said, “I’m a Jack of All Trades.” And this serves him very well. “People can get in, get what they want and get out in minutes if they need to,” Long said.

A native of South Windsor, Long said being part of the community is important and one of the reasons Petersen’s Hardware has thrived for nearly seven decades.

“We donate to the schools, library and Little League - we are part of this community,” he said, adding that so are his employees. “We have an employee who has been here since 1989 and another who has been with us for 20 years. We have a relaxed work atmosphere and it’s a fun place to work and shop.”

Not only does Petersen’s have loyal employees, it has loyal customers. “Some people come in every day,” Long said, noting that customers and staff are the best part of the business.

“Having a customer come in, having what they need and helping them with whatever issue they’re having is what it’s all about,” he said. “And with staff, sometimes you get to see them get their start while in high school, then go off to college and sometimes come back for summers and you can see them grow.”

Petersen’s stocks a little bit of everything, said Long. “We have tools, plumbing supplies, nuts and bolts, Benjamin Moore paint, air conditioners, grills, garden supplies, camping chairs - there is a lot!”

And Petersen’s staff is there to help customers navigate the store and their needs, offering services ranging from window screen repairs and filling propane tanks to changing batteries on remotes and cutting keys.

“It’s those little quality of life services that people appreciate,” said Long.

Long, who served South Windsor as a firefighter for 25 years, said owning the store was a dream.

“I always wanted to own a ‘Mom & Pop’ shop,” he said. “I always wanted to be my own boss.”

Darren Long said he hopes to keep the Petersen family tradition alive and hand down the store to a longtime employee someday, but until then, he plans to keep providing the products and service that makes Petersen’s Hardware stand out.

LOCATED AT 850 SULLIVAN AVE., SOUTH WINDSOR, CT PETERSEN’S HARDWARE IS OPEN MONDAY - THURSDAY 7 A.M. - 6 P.M., FRIDAY 7 A.M. - 5 P.M., SATURDAY 8 A.M. - 5 P.M., AND SUNDAY 9 A.M. - 1 P.M.

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