Beloved Family Hardware Store Expanding Even as Some Neighborhood Giants Stumble
A thriving family-owned hardware store that has been a neighborhood staple in Chelsea and the West Village for nearly 140 year years is proving the power of the little guy by adding a kitchen and garden line at its newest location on W. 23rd and Ninth. Garber’s is run by Nathaniel Garber-Shoen, a great great grandson of the Russian immigrant who founded the first Garber’s in 1884.
| 07 Aug 2023 | 11:53
Nathaniel Garber Shoen, the great great grandson of the Russian immigrant who founded the original Garber’s Hardware story in 1884, stands at the doorway of the newest shop, a kitchen & garden outlet on Ninth Ave. and 23rd. St with his pet “Kanga.” Photo: Deborah Fenker
Space is at a premium, so the staff likes to “curate” their offerings in their shops including this newest outlet for kitchen & garden ware (above). Their is motto is: “if we don’t have it, we can get it for you.” Photo: Deborah Fenker
As one of the beloved giants of our neighborhood falls, Garber’s a small, independently owned hardware business has quietly swooped in to pick up some of the slack.
Bed Bath & Beyond, whose landmark Chelsea location has provided for residents for over thirty years, is facing its imminent demise with a huge closeout sale but no hopes of salvaging the location. But in a moment of serendipity, a David to BB&B’s Goliath, Garber’s has spawned an extension of its already thriving hardware business: Garber’s Kitchen & Garden, just around the corner from the existing tools and paint (and more!) store on 9th Avenue.
Garber’s has been a mainstay in New York City since 1884. Not many businesses can say that, which speaks realms towards the quality of the service, products and reliability of the shop. The owner, Nathaniel Garber-Shoen, is the great-great grandson of the original founder, Joseph Garber, a Russian immigrant who opened the original location at 710 Greenwich in the Village nearly 140 years ago. They expanded in 2016 to open this second location in Chelsea at 207 Ninth Avenue. And then, quite appropriately, on Mother’s Day of this year, they opened up around the corner on 23d street with a Kitchen & Garden annex. This addition features a plethora of items most mothers (and many others) will find extremely useful.
Garber-Schoen began thinking about expanding when the diner on the corner vacated. He had the business and clientele to support growing the business, and when the space availed itself, he jumped on it. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, with Loewe’s on 6th avenue closing in 2021, and Bed Bath & Beyond on its last legs. True, with the dominance of online retail, a mom-and-pop brick-and-mortar is still a tough haul. But with their motto “Either we have it or we can get it for you,” Garber’s offers a personalization and convenience that no online retailer can.
There is always someone on hand at Garber’s to help. When Nathaniel is there, so is his trusty pit-bull, Kangaroo (affectionately known as Kang), who serves as a companion when business is slow and security if things get sketchy. A revolving staff of eight knowledgeable, congenial and helpful employees man the register, five of which hold down the fort at the Kitchen & Garden store. Arianna Reyes, a twenty-six year old native New Yorker, has staffed the store since its opening, and says that even though they didn’t advertise the expansion, things have been busy. ’Tis the season, of course, with plants, potting soil and watering cans in high demand.
The Hardware store is open from a chipper 8:15 am to accommodate no-collar professionals and emergencies. Kitchen & Garden, being somewhat more elective, welcomes customers from 10am. In both locations, “space is a premium,” says Garber, “so we try to curate.” To that end, the new addition features kitchen staples like pots, pans and measuring cups, planters, potting soil and garden tools to fully justify the name. They also stock such niceties as Chilewich placemats, a full array of Dr. Bronner’s (another iconic family-owned company) soaps and lotions, and necessities like ice trays and kitchen gadgets, as well as cast iron, ceramic and non-stick pans. As a small local business, Garber’s recognizes the struggle of keeping afloat, and thus supports other local companies like Joann’s Pottery from the Poconos and stocks indigenous seeds from Hudson Valley Seed, optimized for our local climate. There are also bird feeders for the ornithophiles, replacement coffee carafes and real old-fashioned washboards for the true Luddites. Prices range from a couple of bucks to up to $300 for a heavy-duty wheelbarrow, ingeniously propped up in the front window.
So while Bed Bath & Beyond’s absence will still sting, Garber’s Kitchen & Garden will soften the blow to some extent. Both divisions of Garber’s welcome customers new and old, and are there for suggestions, advice and pretty much everything you need for home maintenance. Oh... except bath towels. You’ll still have to outsource those.
Here’s where you can find the various Garber’s outlets.
Garber’s West Village 710 Greenwich Avenue 212-929-3030
Garber’s Chelsea 207A Ninth Avenue 212-242-9475
Garber’s Kitchen & Garden 400 West 23d (same phone as Chelsea)
Garber’s West Village 710 Greenwich Avenue 212-929-3030
Garber’s Chelsea 207A Ninth Avenue 212-242-9475
Garber’s Kitchen & Garden 400 West 23d (same phone as Chelsea)