It looks like Scheidt Hardware may remain open after current owner Bob Scheidt retires this summer. Local building contractor George McCandliss started working at the hardware store on Monday. He said he’s been talking with Scheidt for several months about taking over the shop.
There’s going to be a transition period,” McCandliss said. “We’ll see when Menards opens, and see how it goes. Eventually I’ll go to the bank and see if I can get a loan to purchase the store.”
McCandliss said he’s been a customer since he moved to Maplewood in 1998. He has some updates in mind, including using the basement for meetings or workshops. He said there’s currently “a hundred years of accumulation down there.”
McCandliss said he’s thinking of focusing the store on farming, growing food, raising chickens, and other interests in the Maplewood and Richmond Heights area.
Though he’d have to learn the business, McCandliss said in the long term he’d rather run the store than “breaking my body being a contractor the rest of my life, and I think it’s a great business to have in Maplewood.”
Scheidt said others have been interested buying, so he’s not ready to answer the question about how he feels about McCandliss taking over.
“It’s too early to ask that question,” Scheidt said. “The other guy (another possible buyer) was here a month or two, and he decided he didn’t want to work too hard.”
Scheidt said he still plans to retire this summer.
Scheidt is what a hardware store is supposed to be.
I walked in there one day with an old, dirty, beat-up looking screw in the palm of my hand. Bob took one look and said, “So you’ve removed and shined up your old door hardware, and now you need screws.” He was exactly right! The screw was from a 100-year-old door plate that I was in the process of cleaning up and restoring. Bob then calmly walked to the back of the store where there are dozens of little drawers containing hardware of all kinds. He pulled open one drawer and counted out my required number of screws. He knew the exact drawer for the exact sized screw that I had in my hand. Very impressive! It will be a shame to lose his knowledge, but I’m glad McCandliss will keep the store going.
Scheidt Hardware is a local treasure and their services match the needs of our older homes. You can’t go to Menard’s to find expert advise on glazing wood windows or find matching keys to your mortise locksets. Bob has helped me multiple times and wish him a happy retirement.
I would much rather run into Scheidt’s hardware than any other box store…….they have everything you need & the knowledge to go with it….for free!
Looking forward to supporting this transition!
Good luck George!