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Date: 9/15/2020
EASTHAMPTON – Even before Manchester Hardware had opened on Sept. 10, a line had formed outside the entrance.
After announcing plans to retire and close the store permanently after 125 years in business, Carol Perman, owner of the Union Street staple, launched what she called the businesses’ biggest and final sale. Perman made her intentions known in a letter to customers that was posted on social media on Sept. 7 and sent to some customers prior to the public announcement – and the public responded in resounding fashion
“It was a little bit scary,” Perman admitted, referring to the volume of people coming to the store. “We had a number in mind to make sure we didn’t have too many people in the store [due to COVID-19 occupancy regulations], but people were so nice and so patient.”
The turnout at the store for the first day of the retirement sale was indicative of the community’s feelings about not only the establishment but the people, she noted.
“Everybody’s really kind of sad that it’s going away,” she said. “But they are all very kind and wish me well.”
Manchester Hardware was first founded in 1895 by George L. Manchester. In 1960, Perman’s father, George Schwartz, bought the business and ran it until he died in 1989. Pearman took over the business at that point and became its sole owner in 2016. While admitting it was hard to let the store close in this manner, Perman said it was “the last option.” She explained she had tried to find a new owner for the business before ultimately determining closure was the correct course of action.
“I’ve been trying to retire for the last five years,” she said. “I tried everything else I could do before deciding to close.”
Beyond the longevity of the locally-owned small business, Perman said letting go was difficult because of the way Easthampton had embraced the company and its staff.
“It’s been one of the best experiences of my life,” she said of being in Easthampton. “You really are part of a community here.”
Perman said the actual closing date of the store had not been determined. She said it was possible the final days could come in the third week of November, but she was “playing it by ear.” Fixtures and equipment are for sale as well as the entire inventory of merchandise, which Perman said was set to “liquidation prices.”
In her retirement, Perman said she planned to build a new home, enjoy landscaping with native plants and volunteer.
“I don’t plan on getting a job, at least at first, but I don’t know,” she said, adding jokingly, “There should be a support group for people who go from working 50 hours a week to retiring.”