Today's Kenosha Spotlight small business is one that is near and dear to the Nikolai Nuthouse family. The hardware store has seen many of the Nikolai feet pass through the doors over the years. My husband's grandfather was one of the original owners of the A&B Hardware & Lockshop located here in Uptown Kenosha at 6306-22nd Avenue. 52 years later A&B is still serving the Kenosha community and is still family owned by Russ & Laurie Hackbarth, my husband's Aunt and Uncle.
In the fall of 1960 Alton and Verna Andersen (My husbands grandparents), and Bert and Ruth Nielsen open the store which was known then as Al & Bert’s Hardware. Al was a Milkman here in Kenosha (anyone remember those days???) and Bert was an Electrician. Along with their wives, they ran the hardware store in addition to working their full time jobs. Al and Bert were aware that most of the hardware stores in Kenosha at the time had specialties they focused on and that they needed to find a niche the others were not filling at the time. Al had some exposure to locks, so they decided to focus their attention to filling that niche for Kenosha. Al left his full time milk route in approximately 1967 to work in the store full time and 1969 joined the Pro Hardware franchise of which they are still associated with today. Unfortunately in the summer of 1971 the partnership between Al and Bert dissolved . The Andersen's became the sole owners of A&B Hardware and Lockshop.
Al tried looking for an employee to help with the business without much success. At the time Russ Hackbarth was dating Al and Verna’s youngest daughter Laurie and he convinced Russ to work for him. Initially, it was thought that Russ would only work in the store a year or so, but as he got more involved Russ found that he enjoyed the work, especially the locksmithing portion of the business. Upon graduating from college Russ went to work full time for Al in the summer of 1974. Laurie, who had pretty much grown up in the store (along with her sisters Nancy and Peg) knew the place inside and out, and decided to come on full time as well. In January 1976 A & B Hardware & Lockshop Inc. was formed between Al and Verna and Russ and Laurie. Sadly, Laurie's father Al died in December 1982, and shortly thereafter Russ and Laurie purchased what had become Verna Andersen's part of the business. Verna remained active in the bookkeeping part of the business and as an officer until shortly before her death in 2006 . I remember seeing her in the office along with Laurie anytime we stopped in at the store for something. My older kids do as well I'm sure. I never had to the opportunity to meet Al, but from all of the stories I have heard, he was a man anyone would love to have as a friend. Russ and Laurie's daughters, Heather and Heidi, also grew up in the store and spent many of their summers helping out their parents. I'm sure Heather and Heidi's husbands are thankful they have the knowledge of 52 years in the hardware business behind them!
Initially the business was split about even between the hardware and the locksmithing divisions. As time has gone on and the market has changed their focus has been much more on the security industry to the point today that we are primarily locksmiths focusing on the commercial and industrial aspects of the physical security industry. They still provide the community with residential locksmithing and hardware products as well as glass cutting, window and screen repair, pipe cutting and threading and yes, even carpet cleaner rentals! When we bought our house Russ set us up and changed out all of our locks, he's a worker bee to say the least. He had all of the locks changed before I could even get him something to drink. :)
Russ and Laurie enjoy the business they have grown ,as well as the relationships they have developed through the years with their customers . They are active within the community and support several organizations in Kenosha including the Kenosha Pops Concert Band and the Boys and Girls Club. If you get a chance stop by the store and meet Russ, Laurie and their staff. You will always be greeted with a big smile, a story and you can see a piece of Kenosha's history of an almost bygone era. Need a key made, or having a problem with something in your home?? I bet they can help steer you in the right direction for your particular need. Stop by and say hi, and tell them Char sent you. :)
A & B Hardware & Lockshop Inc.
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
6306 - 22ND AVENUE
Phone 262-658-3142
Fax 262-658-3147
Email: russ@ablockshop.com
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