65-year-old Home Depot rival closes business permanently

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The home improvement and hardware retail sector has been hit by a string of retailer closings this year that will continue through the end of 2025.

Industry experts have predicted reduced growth in the home improvement market this year and lower sales projections, according to a Home Improvement Research Institute report in September.

The institute in September slashed its annual consumer sales projection in half to a 1.3% increase. It had projected a 2.6% increase in June. It also adjusted its annual professional market sales down to 4.6% from its 4.9% prediction in June.

A combination of an elevated 30-year mortgage rate at 6.34% on Nov. 25, 2025, according to Bankrate, — the average rate was 3.02% on Nov. 20, 2020, Money.com reported — a drop in housing starts, rising home prices, and a reduction in home sales in recent years has led to fewer consumer visits to home improvement and hardware stores.

Several hardware stores close locations

Economic challenges have led several hardware stores to shut down locations, including 117-year-old Ritter’s True Value Hardware in Mechanicsburg, Pa., which shut down permanently on Sept. 30 and Carnation Ace Hardware, a 56-year-old hardware store in Carnation, Wash., which closed its business forever on Oct. 25.

Also, Minnesota-based hardware chain Jerry’s Hardware & Rental, which is a part of the Do It Best retail cooperative, revealed that it will close two of its Twin Cities-area locations on Dec. 31, 2025.

C&H Hardware closing down its business

And now, 65-year-old Yakima, Wash., hardware store C&H Hardware is shutting down its business, facing rising prices and difficulty competing against online sales, according to KIMA-TV 29.

C&H Hardware has revealed that Nov. 26 will be its last day in business, as it will shut down permanently after almost 66 years of operation.

Owner Jay Fleck, who started as a customer and was then hired as an employee for several years before buying the business, said his store was unable to compete against the prices and convenience of online shopping, KIMA-TV reported.

Online competition hampers hardware business

"This year has been tough because everybody's buying online now," Fleck said. "You can get stuff online cheaper than you can come in and pay us."

Business was good at C&H before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, according to Fleck.

“It was smooth until Covid hit," Fleck said. "Of course, we were fortunate to have stayed open. A lot of other places had to shut down. So, we've done pretty good through Covid. And after that, it was kind of over. It's been a downhill slide ever since."

More closings:

• Major trucking company closes Home Depot distribution facility

• 63-year-old bankrupt retail chain closes all stores permanently

• Discount retail chain closes half its store locations

In addition to online sales competition, C&H had to face fierce competition from hardware and home improvement store giants, Home Depot and Lowe's, as well as two Ace Hardware stores and one True Value Hardware store, all located in Yakima.

C&H Hardware competitors in Yakima:

• Home Depot, 2115 South 1st Street

• Lowe's, 2235 Longfibre Ave.

• Hometown Ace Hardware, 401 South 40th Ave.

• Steins Ace Hardware, 7200 West Nob Hill Blvd.

• Helms East Valley True Value, 104 Butterfield Road

The hardware store, which opened on Dec. 31, 1959, has sold automotive equipment, nuts, bolts, fasteners, hand tools, cutting and power tools, plumbing and electrical equipment, hydraulic hoses and fittings, lawn and garden equipment, and agricultural tools.

C&H Hardware can also provide duplicate house, work, and automobile keys for its customers.

C&H Hardware products

• Automotive equipment

• Nuts, Bolts, and Fasteners

• Hand tools

• Cutting and power tools

• Plumbing and electrical equipment

• Hydraulic hoses and fittings

• Lawn and garden equipment

• Agricultural tools

• House, work, and automobile keys

Related: 77-year-old furniture retail chain files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.