San Diego Hardware Celebrates 120 Years

Oldest Family Owned Business in San Diego Going Strong in Kearny Mesa

San Diego Hardware, offering the largest selection of decorative hardware in San Diego, is celebrating 120 years in business. Founded in 1892 in San Diego, the company is still owned by one of the original founding families and has evolved over the decades to keep current with a booming Internet business and busy Kearny Mesa showroom.

“We’re proud to say that we are one of the only businesses in San Diego with such a long history,” said owner Bill Haynsworth. “We now have our fifth generation working in the store. Thanks to San Diego for helping us achieve a milestone few companies can celebrate.”

The company has an illustrious history in San Diego and was originally opened downtown on Fifth Ave. by Haynsworth’s great uncle and his business partners. The current owners Bill Haynsworth and Rip Fleming bought the business in 1983 from Haynsworth’s father. Haynsworth’s son currently works at the store, making him the fifth generation to help with the business. Over the years, the store sold many different items from pots and pans to Winchester riffles, cast iron stoves and iceboxes until Haynsworth and Fleming focused their core products on decorative hardware.

Left to right are Mary White, Bob White, Suzi More and Bill Haynsworth.

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 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.

Not shy to embrace technology, the owners of San Diego Hardware run a separate and prolific online business — HardwareSource.com, offering more than 3,800 hinges for everything from 3000 pound doors to jewelry boxes.

“We keep evolving to meet the times,” said Haynsworth. “That is one reason we’ve been around for 120 years.”

For more information on San Diego Hardware go online at www.sandiegohardware.com, call 858-576- 1892 or please visit the showroom at 5710 Kearny Villa Road in San Diego.

Category: Local News