There was a vision when Chris and Speedy Ewing opened C&S Hardware in Oil City — a one-stop shop for locals to complete their home projects.
Bolstered by requests from Oil City residents and City Council to fill the void of a local hardware store, the husband and wife opened their Seneca Street location in 2016. In addition to hardware, the store provides lumber, tool rental, plumbing supplies, and roofing.
Citing competition from big box retailers and online availability, the Ewings found slow business in Oil City doesn’t allow for a viable option of keeping the store open.
“It is difficult to compete as an independent small town hardware store,” the Ewings said in a news release. “Our primary location, C&S Hilltop Hardware at 1321 15th Street Hill in Franklin will remain in operation, and we look forward to serving our clientele as needed.”
The plan, according to Speedy Ewing, is to relocate their current Oil City staff to their Franklin location once the Oil City store closes, but there is no closing date set.
He said a liquidation auction will be held at the end of June and it will run through mid-summer, and the store will fully close in August. The auction will include remaining inventory items, store fixtures and equipment.
“This decision has not come lightly, and we thank The City of Oil City and the customers that supported our business from all over Venango County,” the news release said.
