Saying Goodbye to Montclair’s Historic Hardware Store: A Bittersweet Farewell to Saunders Hardware

Saunders Hardware, a historic hardware store located on Valley Road in Montclair, is set to close its doors after over a century in business. For many loyal customers, the news of the store’s closure has been difficult to digest. One such customer is Tom Vultee, who has been behind the register at the store for the past 26 years and has become a familiar face to many.

Vultee shared that many customers have come in every day to say goodbye and express their best wishes. He said that Saunders Hardware is one of the oldest operating businesses in Montclair and that he took over ownership in 1998. The decision to sell the store was bittersweet for him as he has spent the last 40 years in the hardware business.

The store will be having going out of business sales starting at 30% off and gradually increasing. Vultee plans to donate any unsold inventory once the majority of items are gone. While the building has been sold, there is no indication yet on what it will be transformed into in the future.

As Vultee looks forward to retirement, he intends to spend his time with his grandchildren and pursuing his passion for fishing. The decision to sell the store was driven by both personal factors and challenging economic conditions, and Vullee acknowledges that it was time to move on to the next chapter in his life. Customers and community members who have valued Saunders Hardware over the years will surely miss the store and services it provided.