Home » A Fond Farewell to Pennington Hardware

A Fond Farewell to Pennington Hardware

by Madeline Ference

Maureen Hullfish wears a subtle, silver bar necklace around her neck to work. It’s not flashy- in fact, it’s hardly noticeable. But the meaning behind it pushes her forward every day, and is a small reminder of her motto in life. In small letters, the necklace reads ‘faith,’ something her and her family have to possess in this next step in their lives.

Pennington Hardware, located at 15 W Delaware Avenue in Pennington, NJ,  will be closing its doors at the end of the month.

“We’re definitely thankful for their [the community] support and love over the years, and it’s bittersweet,” said Maureen. “We’re going to miss this. Our kids grew up in here- we have a 38 year-old and a 25 year-old and they grew up working in here. It’s sad.”

The couple bought the property in 1995, but the building has been a hardware store since 1850, serving the residents of Pennington Borough for over 150 years. After owning Pennington Hardware for 23 years, the couple is ready to close the doors and start a new chapter in their lives –to retire and do something for themselves, deservedly so.

“It’s sad, because all the smaller hardware stores are going away,” said Maureen. “It has to do with the bigger stores but it also has to do with Amazon- with all the online stuff.”

Facebook flooded with memories and well-wishes when Pennington Hardware announced that it would be closing. Although some residents are sad to be losing such a historical part of the Borough, they sent their gratitude and praise for all the family has done over the years.

“No matter if we needed a single bolt or enough paint to cover the house, you guys came through,” wrote Tom O’Neill, on Facebook. “We will miss you.”

The Hullfishes are good friends with Will Mooney and Beth Ann Judge, who owned The Brother’s Moon in Hopewell Borough,a restaurant that recently closed its doors after over fifteen years of serving the community. Their closing is a bittersweet reality to the Hullfishes. (To read more, please see “The ‘Moon will forever shine over Hopewell Borough”)

“He [Mooney] doesn’t know anything else but food, I don’t know much but hardware,” Greg said..

Greg has been working in the hardware store since he was 16. But at 59, he is ready to put down the hammer and start something new. He, Maureen, and their youngest daughter will be heading down to South Carolina for some relaxation and family time.

“I’ll be a fisherman,” Greg said, with a soft smile. “A professional fisherman.”

No matter what they end up doing, one thing is certain: with faith on their side, the Hullfishes will enjoy retirement and always be remembered in Pennington Borough.

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