by Karen Laslo
posted March 8
As I crossed the street to park my bike in its usual spot in front of the store on a recent afternoon, I saw the big sign in the window: “Store Closing Sale.”
From our house in the Avenues, Collier Hardware was just a short bike ride downtown. I looked forward to my jaunt to the venerable 154-year-old store. My routine was I’d park my bike conveniently in front of the store, go in and look around to see what was new, find the item I needed, make my purchase and ride home. I confess that I felt a little smug knowing that I hadn’t contributed to the climate crisis by driving my car downtown.
Over the past 28 years, since we’ve lived in Chico, Collier has been the store I’d go to for such items as light bulbs, dish towels, nails, screws, work gloves, flashlight batteries or one of their big, red leaf rakes.
Collier Hardware has been owned and operated by the Lucena family since 1971. When I learned that the store was going to close, I asked Matt Lucena, one of the three brothers who owns the store, why they were closing. He replied, “The store is losing money.”
I felt sad knowing that Chico was going to lose, like so many other towns across our country, one of its iconic, charming old downtown stores. I resented the fact that people are shopping more and more on-line or driving way across town to one of the big box stores to make their purchases.
Before I left, I made one final Collier Hardware purchase, and, even though I didn’t need it, I bought their last big red rake.
Karen Laslo is a freelance contributor to ChicoSol.
I’ll certainly miss this store. As a kid, I remember visiting Colliers with my mom. She was a DIY kinda gal and always found what she needed there; tools, yard work equipment, etc. She loved that store. We’d browse long after we found what she needed. I recall how the store’s wooden floors looked and smelled. That was in 1963.
As the article writer wrote, it is extremely sad to see the small businesses (Mom & Pop Shops) literally run out by the “Big Box Stores”…This has been this family’s livelihood for decades (& also I’m sure so many friendships have been formed, etc, etc throughout the years!). I wish this family only the best in the future & only good memories of the past!
Collier Hardware IS Chico!!! So sorry to see it go!
What a shame! Hard to compete with chains and their buying power.
My parents and l went each month to buy items from this great hardware store. They stored and sold items no body sold …….forevermore
You lefties and your climate change bullshit just kill me.
Biden and the Democrats wrecked the economy, doofus. Colliers is just another example in a long line of closures over the last 4 years that can be directly attributed to the supply chain interruptions, California’s outrageous taxes, outrageous minimum wage laws, and a 50% REAL inflation rate.
Keep voting Democrat, and there’s nothing on the horizon but more crime,
poverty, and Amazon trucks. Well done, Democrats. Well done.
Bill, your comment shows you are unaware of the real issues. See ProjectCensored.org and the Empire Files before you embarrass yourself with more incorrect; unfounded opinions. Having been a business owner in Chico for 40 years and a student of Critical Media Literacy, and being acquainted with the Lucena bros. I can tell you there are dominant forces at work here; more than you have mentioned.
Charles, well said. I’m saddened to see the store close too. Small stores struggling to be profitable against large competitors has been a trend for decades across different administrations. And lets remember Bill may not even be a real local person. “Bill” has a goal with this post. The goal is to point fingers, encourage discontent and generally make us hate each other, all to serve a political purpose. Thank you for disagreeing without taking the bait.
If you had another brain it would be lonely.
Karen, sweet tribute to the historic downtown business. I wonder what will go into that corner space.