Norris Hardware was filled with customers during the 50 percent-off closing sale.
Norris Mobbed by Customers
Norris owners Ellen and Grant Sears had announced at the end of June that the hardware store would start a 50 percent-off sale on July 9 in anticipation of closing on August 31.
The Sears were surprised by the number of people that were lined up at the door of the store when it opened at 8:30 a.m. “There were about 30 people outside,” Ellen said.
At 11 a.m., even as closing signs were going up in and outside of the store, people were filling shopping carts with goods. Entire shelves of goods were almost empty.
At 5 p.m. Palisades resident Rosalie Huntington wrote, “I am sending this from the parking lot outside Norris. I feel helpless as I watch the death of a beloved neighborhood store.”
She reported that a person bought the entire wall of screws and parts that are kept in the key kiosk.
Initially, the Grants thought it would take several weeks for the stock to sell, but at this rate, goods will be gone by the end of the week.
Anything not sold will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
At the end of the day on July 9, many of the shelves were empty. Photo: Rosalie Huntington
Oh will they be missed!! Norris was such a part of our community. And I hope the employees who are so familiar to us land on their feet.
Clearly the community wants and needs a local go-to place for help and goods. I don’t know if the following is feasible but it may be worth looking into. Our community is great at taking on challenges.
Considering all the business experience and expertise, as well as entrepreneurial talent and financial resources among our residents, how about forming a committee to investigate creating a new “Beyond Norris Hardware” Co-Op hardware store. Using google I found the following link, (from the U.K.’s The Guardian!).
https://www.theguardian.com/social-enterprise-network/2012/apr/05/how-to-set-up-a-cooperative
Finding an affordable location is clearly a major issue. We’ve lost so many small businesses over the years, just as Montana Ave has, because of spiraling rents so it’s going to take some civic-minded and generous residents to solve this problem.
Thank you, Norris Family, for helping to make Pacific Palisades such a special place. Now what do we do without your store?