Warren's at 15: Lewiston hardware store celebrating anniversary, raffling prizes

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Customers can visit Warren’s Village Hardware in Lewiston with confidence.

•Confidence they will find the rights parts for their fixer-upper.

Since former owner Bill Warren took over the store at 185 Portage Road, 15 years ago, somewhere around 20,000 products have lined the shelves.

“We've been expanding inventory as demand requires. But, there's a basic hardware store, and we've gone beyond that,” Warren said. “I think we have a lot. We get very few people that come in and we don't have what they need.”

“If we don't happen to have the item, we, for the most part, can order it, if people can wait for it,” said Ashley (Warren) Wesser, who now runs the store with her husband, Rick Wesser. “We usually do a special-order discount to kind of thank them for waiting.”

•Confidence they will receive expert advice on home repairs.

“Between us, we've got how many years in the business? Probably 40-45 years,” Warren said.

So, beyond book smarts or second-hand know-how, “It helps with being able to explain how to use the products – and we've used most of the products in here, so we know the good and the bad,” Ashley said.

“And to interpret what they're asking for,” Warren said. “Many times, (shoppers) haven't a clue; but they describe something, and we can focus in on it.”

“There's a difference between the repair, fixing something in your house, and then also the remodeling,” Rick said.

“It's a lot about determining what their problem is, and deciphering actually what they need, and then applying basically the 45 years of experience here to figuring that problem out and leading them to the right product.”

A look at some of the roughly 20,000 items available inside Warren’s Village Hardware.

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•Confidence that, if they need a professional to do the job, Warren’s has the right person.

“We had a corkboard,” Ashley said, “and we had people putting cards up; and we ran out of room, so we turned to a book.

“As we get to know handymen, contractors, certain plumbers, electricians, we add them to the book and just kind of try to help the people that need something. We know who will do little jobs, who will do big jobs.”

Rick estimated the store’s famous book has hundreds of business cards.

“We'll put names in the book and then give them out, and as we get response, we refer people that we know are good; they'll show up and return phone calls,” Ashley said.

“The names that we consistently give out are people that we are sure of,” Warren said.

“I think a lot of people are more comfortable asking questions, and they know that we know what we're talking about,” Ashley said. “They know they're going to get the right answer to help them, as best that we can do.”

“I think a lot of it is mostly helping people get through the repairs that they need to make, and steering them toward maybe the proper tool or accessory or part that they need to get that done is a big part of it,” Rick said.

“I think a lot of people feel a lot more comfortable coming in here,” as opposed to chain retailers, he added. “In here, you get 45 years’ worth of experience; to have somebody walk you through it, who they feel comfortable with, and kind of help you go through the process. And then a lot of times they'll call back and have questions about it. I don't think you get that at the ‘big box’ stores.”

Bill Warren is shown next to the prizes Warren’s Village Hardware is raffling off in April to celebrate the store’s 15^th anniversary.

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Warren’s is celebrating 15 years of service to the River Region in April by doing what staffers do best: giving back to the community.

Patrons can enter a weekly, no-purchase-necessary raffle to win one of four prizes.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4, a draw will be held to award a Dewalt 108-piece set, valued at $97.99.

At that same time on April 11, the prize will be a True Fast flip knife and sharpener ($46.99.)

April 18 will see the raffling of a Dewalt 20-volt compact drill kit ($149.99).

The grand prize, if you will, is an Ooni wood pellet pizza over ($249.99), to be drawn April 25.

In addition, Warren’s will host a hot dog cookout from noon until 2 p.m. April 25.

“We wouldn't be here without them,” Ashley said of Warren’s customers. “They've made this possible for all of us.”

Ashley (Warren) Wesser and Rick Wesser stand in front of their Lewiston store’s paint sample section. Warren’s Village Hardware is celebrating its 15^th anniversary since the Warren family began operation.