18
SHAWNEE MAGAZINE sunflowerpub.com
“the hartman building is a key property within downtown shawnee.”
—Russ Pearson, Box Real Estate Development
M
A New Business
in 2021
Owners of the former Hartman Hardware Store retire and turn the keys over to a new tenant. story by Debra DeCoster | photography by Kevin Anderson
ike and Lisa (Hartman) Unterreiner, owners of Hartman Hardware on Johnson Drive in Shawnee, took one last look around their store before shutting and locking the door for the last time in late October. After 36 years in the hardware business, they decided to retire. Hartman Hardware has served the community for more than 74 years. In 1946, Lisa’s grandfather, Clarence Hartman Sr., purchased the building from A.L. Pierson, turning the former Masonic lodge and dance hall into a family-run hardware store. Retiring was not an easy decision; they say they will miss the day-to-day operation and the people who supported their business for generations. As they watched the business district change along Johnson Drive, they knew it was time for them to leave and let the building serve a new generation of clientele. Russ Pearson, director of development for Box Real Estate Development, was attracted to the property due to the prominent location and visibility along Johnson Drive and Nieman Road. “The recent beautification and walkability improvements installed by the city and the opportunity to set the stage for exciting unique concepts attracted us to these properties,” Russ says.
