Simpson Hardware & Sporting Goods thankful to loyal customers for over 70 years

Simpson Hardware & Sporting Goods is a thirdgeneration, family owned local hardware and sporting goods chain. In the history of the Best of Sumter competition, Simpson Hardware has won Best Locally Owned Business three times (including this year), Best Sporting Goods (including this year), Best Shoes (including this year), Best Ammo/Guns (including this year), Best Fitness (including this year), Best Outdoor Furniture (including this year), Best Men’s Clothing (including this year), Best Paint, Best Fishing, Best Hardware and Best Propane. Simpson’s owes any success to our loyal customers and helpful associates. We are so grateful!

Over the years, Simpson’s has grown to five stores and 160 associates in Sumter, Manning and Lake City (opened March 2023). Simpson Hardware Co. was founded in 1951 by the late Carl Simpson Jr. with the purchase of a store in Camden and later in Hartsville. Several years later, Mr. Simpson sold both stores, moved to Sumter and purchased Boyle Hardware. That store was opened under the Simpson Hardware name on West Liberty Street in 1961 and became the first ACE Hardware store in South Carolina. After one move several blocks away and recent renovations, the original Simpson Hardware remains on Liberty Street.

In 1964, a second location opened at Palmetto Plaza Shopping Center on Guignard Drive under the guidance of Carl Simpson III. That store expanded rapidly and moved twice within the shopping center. This basic hardware store soon became widely known for its sporting goods and lawn and garden departments. However, tragedy struck on April 9, 2000, when that location burned to the ground. After several temporary moves, Simpson Plaza Hardware opened in its new building on Wesmark Boulevard in 2002.

The other three stores in the company are located on Pinewood Road in Sumter, North Brooks Street in Manning, and North Church Street in Lake City. Each has undergone renovations in the last two years. Throughout its history, Simpson’s has served the community through pandemic, floods, hurricanes, ice storms…and even new trends.

In the coming years, the Simpson Hardware company plans to grow its online presence and expand beyond five stores. We currently have varying and new products in fishing, hunting, sporting goods, grilling, lawn care, clothing, gifts, footwear, sunglasses, paint and more. We welcome you to visit any and all locations of this family owned local store.