Seattle Press on Line - Greenwood Hardware Sold

Greenwood Hardware Sold

By Tom Herriman

Mike Radice, left, bought Greenwood Hardware from Ron and Robin Lewis.

Nov 17, 1999 -- Greenwood Hardware, one of the oldest continuously operating hardware stores in the city, has a new owner. Ron and Robin Lewis, who have owned the well-known neighborhood business since 1977, have turned the reins over to Queen Anne residents Mike and Endan Radice. Mike, who will manage the store, said he plans to continue the store's high level of service and advice that thousands of Phinney Ridge and Greenwood households have depended on for years.

The Lewises bought the business from the original owner Ron Gowan, who founded the store in 1948. Under the Lewises ownership, business has expanded six-fold, including a major expansion and remodeling in 1995, and steady growth in sales every year.

"We built this business on service," said Ron Lewis. "We hired excellent staff who knew the hardware business better than we did. We explain things to people and show them how to do things, and many times we do it for them."

Lewis said their business grew despite the proliferation of "Big Box" home and hardware stores around the area. "We have more than 18,000 items in our inventory, about 75 percent of what they'll have in a Home Depot," Lewis said. "The main difference is the experience and education of our sales staff and our high level of service. Many of the sales force have been with the store several years, and customers depend on them for their depth of knowledge. We do glass, we sell and install hot water heaters. We'll show people how to do complicated repairs, or we'll do it for them."

Ron Lewis worked for 3-M Corporation before going into the retail hardware business. Robin, who is from South Africa, met Ron when he was stationed there by 3-M. "I was kicked out of South Africa in the early 70's because of my racial views," Lewis said.

Mike Radice worked as a human resources consultant for the world Bank on construction projects in Indonesia, where he and his wife, Endan met.

Ron Lewis is well-known as a Greenwood community activist who ran for City Council in 1994. "I was heavily into health care reform and neighborhood planning," Lewis said, explaining his foray into politics.

The Lewises live right around the corner from the store, and they will continue to own the property the store occupies. "So we'll still have a real stake in the neighborhood. We're not going away. We're just going to arrange our time differently."

Lewis says he will stay active in the Community Council and Chamber of Commerce, and keep a close eye on important city-wide issues such as transportation.

All of the current staff is staying on, and Radice plans no changes in the products and the level of service except for one thing: the store will go on-line next year with its own web site, offering customers the ability to order by e-mail and link to any hardware supplier in the world through their own local Greenwood Hardware and Glass.

The 13th annual Holiday Tree Lighting in the hardware store's parking lot Nov. 27 will be the last one for Ron and Robin Lewis, and their chance to say farewell and thanks to many of their friends and customers. But the Radices pledge to continue the tradition in the years ahead.

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