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Marking over 50 years in the independent home improvement channel, Keith Genter, owner of Center Hardware & Supply Co. in San Francisco, received the Estwing Golden Hammer Award. The Estwing Golden Hammer is given to any retailer who hits 50 years of service in the industry.
Keith has been in the industry for over 50 years, growing up helping his family in the business. His earliest memories are sweeping the floors of the store and having to use a box to reach the cash register, which was all brass at that time.
Center Hardware was officially established in 1946 but its roots date back to the 1880s with origins stemming from two San Francisco hardware stores: Ocean View Hardware and PA Smith Hardware & Glass.
Ocean View Hardware was founded in the late 1890s by Ernest Leinhardt after he and his half-brother Ernest Gentner immigrated from Germany to San Francisco. Ernest Gentner’s son, Ernest Frederick, came back to work with his uncle full-time in 1947 after World War II and eventually took over the store from his uncle. Keith, Ernest Fredrick’s son, grew up working at his side and eventually took over Ocean View Hardware entirely.
PA Smith Hardware & Glass was founded in the 1880s by Peter A. Smith and primarily supplied products to the burgeoning ship repair business in San Francisco. In 1946, Peter sold the store to Heinz Solbach, and Heinz renamed it Center Hardware. In 1968, Center Hardware was purchased by Richard Blanz who eventually sold to Keith in 1980. At this time, Keith absorbed the Ocean View Hardware side of the business into Center Hardware.
Keith says his favorite of part of the industry is being able to work with customers.
“I had seen others in our industry receive this honor, but never thought it would be something I would get,” Keith says. “This honor is real special.”
Meet other Golden Hammer winners in our Checkouts section.
