The sign on the counter at Hadeler Hardware in Pearl River tells customers that the store began its 108th year Dec. 6, 2012.
There will be no 109th year.
Owner Paul Hadeler is selling the store, which has been in his family since it opened its doors in 1905, so he can retire. His wife Rita's store, Dreams, will also be closing.
"It's been done for a while, but for all the lending agencies to get the money and confirmation took the longest time," Paul Hadeler said. "It's near completion within the next two weeks. We're waiting for a date (to close). I'll auction off what's left when we have a firm date we're going to close."
Hadeler Hardware and Dreams are both currently holding retirement clearance sales. Hadeler said he had been trying to sell the building, which also includes Happy Nails salon and apartments, for over two years because he wanted to retire.
"Other than college, I've been doing it for over 50 years," Hadeler said. "I don't know too many other people who have worked at one job for 50 years. My wife wife and I want to do other things."
The store has been in the family since his grandfather owned it. Paul Hadeler and his brother George bought it from their father. George Hadeler retired and moved to Virginia. .
"All of them are dead," Paul Hadeler said. "I'm the only one left."
According to Hadeler, the buyer is Thomas Clifford of Thomas Clifford's Martial Arts, which currently has a location in Orangetown Shopping Center in Orangeburg. It is unclear if this will be a second location for the martial arts school or if it will be moving. Clifford has not returned calls from Patch.
