Clyde’s hardware store in Upper Darby to close
UPPER DARBY » Clyde’s Home Supplies was more than a local hardware store in Upper Darby. Sure, it had nails, screws and all the equipment you’d need to complete a home project, but it was filled with one thing that couldn’t be bought or fixed: Love.
First, there’s a love of family which is found in the father-son team of Sam and Kevin Clyde, who have owned and operated Clyde’s for the past 12 years. Second, a love for building and creating things with your bare hands and the tools that help you do it. Third, love was in the air at the store when two employees met their eventual wives there when they strolled on in as any other customer.
But for all of the good business and good memories formed at Clyde’s since 1980 will be coming to an end when they close up shop in the next couple of months. A closeout sale at Clyde’s on 7911 West Chester Pike is ongoing until its final day.
“It’s been a constant way of life for the last decade, more than that,” said Kevin Clyde. “We’re gonna miss it.”
Clyde’s was opened by Thom Muth, who would eventually sell the business to his brother, Lou, before passing it over to the Clydes in 2006 – the Muths still own their own hardware stores in Ardmore and Wayne. Sam and Kevin had never aspired to owning their own store, but they jumped at the opportunity.
It wasn’t long there after that the recession hit which put a damper on home construction and improvement projects, among the culmination of other factors that contributed to a gradual declination in business.
“In the last year, yearand-a-half, we’ve seen everything decline steadily in terms of not only the profitability but, also, customer accounts,” said Sam. Clyde’s was more supported by accounts, which included Upper Darby Township and the Upper Darby School District, a representative from the latter in the store scouting out some equipment the district could use, notably a forklift.
And then there’s the bigbox stores including Lowe’s which opened less than a mile away in Havertown in 2013.
“Clearly, that’s not going to be good for anybody in our situation,” Kevin said about initial reports that a Lowe’s would be coming in.
“It not only impacted us but it impacted other small hardware stores in the area,” Sam added. “There have been a number of them that have closed and that’s been a contributing factor to (their) closing.”
Mom and pop hardware stores may not have the tens of thousands of square footage of retail space or the advertising of a major corporation, but what they have is a personal connection with almost every customer that walks in the door. The personal connection has been lost in bigger settings that makes stores like Clyde’s stand out.
“If somebody walks in here, typical we know them; an old customer, somebody we know and have a history with may or may not know what they’re looking for and we’ll put them in touch with the product and chances are they’re not going to know how to use it. We’ll take a minute or two to help them,” said Sam. Even when leaving the store and trying other resources, like YouTube, to get help, customers will still call the store to get help.
“The personal relationship is what sets us apart,” Sam added.
“And, definitely, knowledge,” Kevin said.
Bill Layman has worked at Clyde’s for 18 years and he’s stayed there because he likes helping people.
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“In the last year, yearand-a-half, we’ve seen everything decline steadily in terms of not only the profitability but, also, customer accounts.”
— Sam Clyde, part of father-son team who have owned and operated Clyde’s for the past 12 years