After 133 years, Coraopolis Hardware will be closing its doors. With it, comes a new chapter for the Sweterlitsch Family, who have owned and operated the business for three generations. Join us as we take a look back at its history and prepare to say goodbye to one of Cory’s longest running family-owned businesses.
THE EARLY YEARS
H.W. Wickenheiser started the Coraopolis Hardware company in 1888 and ran it in the former building located on the grasslot at Mill Street & Pine Alley. Wickenheiser sold the business to home builder and contractor, Joseph Sweterlitsch, Sr., in 1927. When a fire on Christmas Day 1945 ripped through the store, the Sweterlitsch family purchased a former used car lot located at 1029 5th Avenue and built an entirely new facility with storage space on the top floor and storefront on the bottom. The store was reopened at its present day location in October 1946.
Coraopolis Hardware President, Bill Sweterlitsch, has fond memories of watching the dynamic between his father and grandfather as they ran the store together for decades.
“My grandfather (Joe, Sr.) was a character. He just loved people and was a real ‘schmoozer.’ He spoiled us grandkids and always had change in his pocket for the gumball machine. He drove my dad nuts, who was more of a serious businessman,” Bill recalled.
As a 12 year-old boy, Bill remembers his father, Joe, Jr., “dragging” him to the hardware store after dinner to open boxes, paint, and stock shelves. He was paid 25 cents an hour. Those business fundamentals led Bill to pursue a degree in business from Westminster College. Upon graduation, he began his career at Pittsburgh National Bank.
The Sweterlitsch siblings - Bill, Deb, and Ken - watched as their dad steered the store through many ups and downs, including a drastic drop in the town’s economy, a complete remodel followed by their biggest sales year ever in 1993, and increased competition with the opening of big box stores in nearby Robinson Township.
“I have a special place in my heart for the people we have had as customers and friends over the years. Especially those who hung in there through the 70’s and 80’s as the town struggled economically,” Bill commented.
It was the general decline of the Coraopolis Business District that prompted Joe, Jr. to create the 501c3 nonprofit organization, Coraopolis Economic Revitalization Corporation in the 1970’s. The organization’s master plans included building an interactive railroad museum among other revitalization projects.
But, without staff and limited availability from its founders who were busy running their own businesses, the plans became unmanageable and unattainable. The organization eventually phased out operations in 1999 and closed in 2000. But the seeds planted by those efforts would inspire and inform future redevelopment work in Coraopolis.
PRESENT DAY
“I’ve witnessed a rebirth in the last four years. Town leadership and people like Brian Diggins, Shawn Reed, along with Coraopolis Community Development’s work. You all are approaching it more holistically than we did. It’s working. Keep going," Bill said.
The current generation of the Sweterlitsch family officially took over the company in 1998 when their father passed away. Bill and Ken became equal partners and Deb joined the team later on.
“I liked that I could be my own boss. I’ve always had a little problem with authority,” Bill chuckled. “But Deb’s the real boss. Everyone knows that. She’s got a huge legion of fans.”
The fact that Coraopolis Hardware never laid anyone off in the store’s history is a point of pride for the family. At one time, the staff peaked at 20 employees, but more recently has stuck with five which Bill says, “works until somebody gets sick.”
Undoubtedly, the sibling’s favorite part of their work is getting to know their customers and their families and being a part of their home improvement projects.
“Sure, you can go to Home Depot and pick something up. But you won’t get the personal attention and counsel you get at a store like ours.” Bill continued, “If somebody ever figures out how to give the best price with the best product knowledge, they will put everybody out of business – because you can’t do both. That’s why there will always be a place for people like us.”
The family’s favorite season at the store is spring, because of all the activity geared toward outdoor projects. April-June have typically been the biggest sales volume months of the year, followed by Christmas as a close second.
When spring 2020 brought the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, the family braced for a challenge. But what could have been negative turned into a positive. With so many people working remotely and focused on the home-front, the store had their biggest year-to-year sales increase in its history.
Bill said, “Luckily, we only had to restrict our hours for a month. Then we got very busy. But 2021 couldn’t keep up with the previous year because we couldn’t get anything in due to the supply chain management problems.”
Now, in 2022, the decision to close the store was not easy, but Bill said they all agree that, “it's just time.”
“My knees are giving out, Ken’s on his second replacement, Deb’s hobbling. We’re a bunch of old people!” he laughed.
Bill looks towards retirement with excitement for the next chapter to come. Big goals include playing more golf, traveling more, and finishing his basement. He also looks forward to spending more time with his two sons and two grandchildren. As he watches the influx of new businesses in town, he offers the following advice to the Coraopolis small business community:
“Talk to your fellow business owners and share ideas. And get to know your customers on a personal level.”
THE NEXT CHAPTER
DIY Build Hacker, Kelly Ulm, has over 25,000 followers on Instagram and his "how-to" videos garner thousands of views online. He hopes to generate that same excitement for handcrafted woodworking at his new building located at 1029 5th Avenue in downtown Coraopolis.
Ulm and his wife, Tammy, are the owners of Eagle Home Inspections. In addition to being an entrepreneur, Kelly is a master woodworker and epoxy enthusiast, a United States Navy Veteran, and a social media connoisseur. He was recently named a content partner of MAS Epoxies based out of Minnesota.
His handy work can be found right around the corner at newly opened Snappy's Taphouse located at 415 Mill Street. Ulm crafted the business's one-of-a-kind bar top along with handcrafted cutting boards and serving trays that Snappy's offers for sale.
The Ulms have already begun the first phase of their project: renovating the upstairs of the building into a 2,500 sq. ft. loft apartment where they will live full-time. The recent "empty-nesters" are preparing to sell their family home in Elizabeth, PA. Once the upstairs is complete, the focus will shift downstairs, which will be transformed into a workshop storefront that holds training sessions, classes, and DIY group project events.
"We couldn't be more excited to be here. There is so much happening in Coraopolis and we look forward to joining the community!" Kelly said.