Doors close at McGinnis Hardware after 146 years on Collierville square – Collierville Independent

As the sun shined on the storefront of McGinnis Hardware, it seemed like a typical Saturday morning in the Collierville Town Square.
With no vacant parking available, customers made their way into the store greeted with warm smiles, warm hugs, hot coffee and soothing Christmas melodies as the store held a “Customer Appreciation Day.”
However, all of the holiday cheer being shared amongst employees and customers alike could not replace the overwhelming feeling of grief as it would be the last time that anyone would occupy the store.
McGinnis Hardware, located at 99 N. Center St., closed its doors for the last time Saturday afternoon after serving the Collierville community for an amazing 146 years of business.
John Green of John Green Realtors, also located within the square, donned attire from yesteryear as he celebrated patronizing the store one final time for the remaining iron rods used to punch support holes in the ground for signs.
“I have been shopping here since 1979,” he said, “and it’s going to feel really weird going anywhere else for these items. We are all like a family here.”
Difficulties arose from competition with major tool and home improvement retailers to a decrease in sales volume by way of a declining economy.
All of these factors, coupled with having to support a staff of four, led to their final decision to close.
Jeff Russell, son of Jan Russell and assistant manager, has been employed with the store for a consecutive 21 years. He is a sixth-generation family member to be employed with the family-owned business and has never worked anywhere else.
Jeff has witnessed the store’s periods of success.
“Today is our last day of business before finally closing up for good,” he said. “We are just celebrating our many years of operation with our families and loyal and supportive customers. I have been doing interviews all week in regards to the store closing and I am bushed.”
In conjunction with the customer appreciation event, McGinnis Hardware hosted a canned food drive, with all donations and proceeds going to the Collierville Food Pantry.
“We just want to give back to the community for all of the years of support,” Russell said.
McGinnis hardware is one of the oldest family-owned hardware stores in the area.
Thomas Jefferson Morris originally opened the store on the east side of Town Square in 1866 and re-located it to its current location on the west side of the square in 1879. Morris later sold the business to his daughter Mary Rebecca Morris McGinnis and his son-in-law Wiley Washington McGinnis.
Jan and her son Jeff began working at the store 21 years ago when her uncle, former Collierville mayor Herman Wright Cox Jr., and her mother, Carolyn Cox Hays, bought them into the business.