Business & Tech

New Sign Lights the Way For Belmont Hardware's 76th Year

City officials, chamber members, employees, customers and owners of Belmont Hardware gathered on Thursday for the official lighting of the store's neon sign.


It was a good old-fashioned ribbon cutting, befitting of a business now in its 75th year in the same location--and doing better than ever.

Last Thursday, Belmont Vice-Mayor David Braunstein, City Councilman Charles Stone, along with several other city officials, joined members of the Belmont Chamber of Commerce and store owners Brad and Yamileth Clore to celebrate the store's 75th year in operation, and to light up the iconic sign that graces the front of the building. 

"The sign is something that's needed attention for quite some time," said Brad Clore, the store's owner since 1991. 

Clore explained that the revamped sign's arrival coincided with the business's 75th anniversary, so a celebration was in order. 

The expansion of Belmont Hardware over the years has come slowly, but Clore is pleased with the current size and layout of the store---one side selling decorative hardware, the other selling plumbing fixtures that range from high-tech shower heads to bidets. Clore said that last year the store expanded into the space next to the original store doubling the showroom’s square footage. Another recent facade improvement is the addition of large custom awnings facing El Camino Real near Ralston Ave. 

Belmont Hardware is the anchor location of the seven-store Northern California retail chain, making it the largest family-owned hardware store in the country according to Clore. 

"We will continue to evolve and to expand and improve on what we have available---the same thing we've been doing since 1991," said Clore. 

Clore and his wife Yami snipped the ribbon with the help of city and chamber officials, and then, counting down from 10, the classic "Hardware" sign was lighted---it's red neon brightening up the cold, dark night. 

"This classic sign serves as an entre to Belmont," said Vice-Mayor Braunstein.

"And you Brad are an asset to the Belmont business community." 

Click on the slideshow above for a closer look at the ribbon cutting celebration.


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