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Marking 130 years in business in 2022, San Diego Hardware celebrated by adding e-commerce, giving customers another way to shop the largest decorative hardware selection in the region.
The company was founded in 1892 in San Diego, is still owned by one of the original founding families and is one of the ten oldest family-owned businesses in San Diego. The new e-commerce website (SanDiegoHardware.com) complements the showroom in Kearny Mesa, giving consumers even more shopping options and a wealth of resources.
The e-commerce website’s 650 product pages feature a large selection of cabinet pulls, door and cabinet hardware in multiple sizes, finishes and colors.
San Diego Hardware co-owner Bill Haynsworth says the shop expands the operation’s high-quality service to customers across the U.S. and offers design tips, free samples of select items and more. Customers can shop from the comfort of their couch and order samples delivered directly to the home or place orders for in-store pickup to grab and go.
“Our 130th anniversary was a celebration of not only our deep roots in San Diego, but also our newest way to shop—our online e-commerce site that launched during the pandemic,” Bill says. “San Diego has been our home for 130 years, and we thank our loyal customers who helped us survive these last few challenging years.”
The store continually updates its in-store and online offerings with new brands, giving shoppers the most up-to-date and on-trend styles and finishes.
“Our website was many years in the making,” says Hannah Haynsworth, co-owner of San Diego Hardware, who along with husband and fellow co-owner Bryan Haynsworth developed the site from scratch. “It was a challenge to capture every single piece of hardware in the store and get it up online, but with the pandemic hitting around the time we finished, we couldn’t have been happier to have an online shopping option for our customers.”
A Family Affair
Located downtown for more than a century, in 2006 the company moved to Kearny Mesa to better serve its customers with a larger space, freeway access and convenient parking. The current showroom is 15,000 square feet and features interactive product displays with more than 7,000 door knobs and pulls, 4,000 hinges and 1,000 door locks on display. In addition, the second floor offers a plumbing showroom with sinks, faucets and other kitchen and bath products. Contractors, interior designers and homeowners can see and try the actual hardware in a setting that is comfortable and accented with historic details from the original store.
As the fourth generation of the Haynsworth family to man the helm of San Diego Hardware, Bill is the great nephew of one of the founders Fred Gazlay. Bill purchased the business with Rip Fleming in 1983. Bill’s son Bryan and Rip’s daughter Hannah, who are married, joined their fathers in ownership in 2024.
Bryan and Hannah began working in the store filling orders as teenagers, and both left for a short time to pursue other ventures and education and eventually returned to the family business and married in 2020. They have played pivotal roles in keeping the business current, contributing to the store’s new websites, developing marketing programs and expanding the product selection. Their latest venture, Studio 1892, an exclusive by-appointment only showroom for interior designers and their clients, is set to open this spring.
“We are proud to be part of the store’s long legacy in San Diego and value our heritage,” Bryan says. “While continuing to honor our family traditions, we eagerly embrace the future by offering new shopping options, such as our exclusive appointment-only Studio 1892, new products from manufacturers around the world and our online shopping sites, all with the personalized customer care we are known for.”
Looking Toward the Future
Named in honor of the year the store opened downtown, Studio 1892 will become a destination for interior designers and their clients to meet to preview premium decorative hardware in a private and comfortable setting. Available by appointment-only, Studio 1892 will feature a meticulously curated selection of top-tier products on display from renowned brands and will offer a diverse range of styles to suit various design preferences and project requirements.
“Unlike at a big box store where the hardware assortment is small and help is hard to find, San Diego Hardware has set itself apart by offering the widest selection of decorative hardware and providing the highest level of customer service,” Bill says. “With Bryan and Hannah at the helm, we know the store will continue our family tradition and uphold our high standards.”
Read more about other retailers with benchmark anniversaries in our Milestones section.
