Ladera Hardware store closing Ladera Hardware store closing (February 23, 2005)

Ladera Hardware and Supply will close its doors May 1, when its lease expires on space in the Ladera Country Shopper.

A letter to "all of our valued customers," posted on the store door, told the news.

"The new owner of Ladera Shopping Center, Eric Willis of Willis and Company has been very cooperative in attempting to help my son Ryan take over the operation of the store and to negotiate a lease," wrote owner Don Teeter.

"The volume of business required to pay the bills is simply higher than we could expect to achieve," said Mr. Teeter.

Mr. Teeter and his son expressed their thanks for customers' support in shopping at the store and said they'll miss them.

While the shopping center opened in September 1957, the hardware store was not one of the first two units built -- Don Long's Quality Foods and John's Liquors. The first hardware store was named Hazy Hills and reportedly opened in the 1960s.

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