After years of anticipation for Robbins Hardware, the wait is over. Robbins Hardware opened in June after seven years of construction.
When brothers and owners Darrell Lee Upchurch and Johnny Upchurch began this adventure, the building at 111 Salisbury Street was condemned. “The entire building had to be gutted,” said Darrell.
Before the opening of Robbins Hardware, people needing supplies would have to travel to Carthage, Seven Lakes, Southern Pines or out of the county. The store gives the northern end of the county a closer option. “We wanted a hardware store that Robbins can be proud of,” said Darrell.
The family also owns Upchurch Floors about a block away from the hardware store.
For years, there has been talk about the upcoming hardware store. Glimpses of construction could be caught through the windows when turning from Middleton Street onto Salisbury Street.
The hardware store is just one business in a stretch of businesses on Salisbury Street that owners have renovated or are in the process of renovating. Robbins Village Theater is currently undergoing renovations in that same area. Eden’s Garden Cafe, whose owner owns several businesses in town, has completed renovations. It is all part of a welcomed and growing business economy in Robbins.
A close-knit town allows business owners to support each other. Robbins Hardware is no different. The hardware store sells biscuits from Eden’s Garden that you can grab and go or heat and eat with a hot cup of coffee in the store.
“Anything we can get that is made locally that we can sell, we will do that,” said Darrell. “We’re just getting started; we will get everything from vendors organized, and we see that there is some stuff that is not going to work.”
The Upchurch brothers will rely on customer feedback to determine what products are best to offer. “We want to sell what best suits the area. We have listened to the feedback from our customers to help make up our minds and to see what they need,” said Darrell.
The store offers a variety of home improvement and construction tools such as lawn and garden equipment, paint, paint tools, drywall tools, Milwaukee power tools, plumbing supplies, and more. They also carry some of the top brands like Valspar, Killz, Stanley, and Milwaukee, just to name a few.
A slideshow preview of Robbins Hardware.
The new hardware store offers a variety of affordable options for projects of any scale.
Robbins resident Kathy Martindale shopped at the hardware store for the first time for a few plumbing supplies and smoke detectors. “They were very helpful. They have put in a lot of work on the building and have reasonable prices,” noted Kathy.
“We appreciate all the support from customers and residents so far,” said Darell.
Credit is also given to the staff who keep the store running smoothly. Richard McKenzie manages the store. Behind the desk is a longtime family friend and employee, Allie Kennedy.
To learn more about Robbins Hardware, visit the official Facebook page or call (910) 898-0500.
~Article, photos, and video by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self. Curtis has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2019.
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