Linden Avenue
Carpinteria, California, USA

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Our Local Hardware Store

Austin's sign (Image by Willie H.)

Austin's Home Center is at 700 Linden Avenue and is owned by Meg Austin.

There has been a hardware store on Linden since 1903. The current owner, Meg Austin, has owned it since 1992.

Willie H. at the counter at Austin's (Image by Willie H.)

The original business in this location was started by Martha & Glen Hickey at the turn of the century, called Hickey Hardware. Although Glen is now deceased, Martha Hickey still owns the building. The original store was a General Mercantile business. The current location originally contained 4 different stores. There was no electricity and the lighting was provided by overhead skylights.

The patio area in Austin's. (Image by Willie H.)

In 1953, Joe Omweg purchased the business and started a True Value Hardware, called Valley Hardware & Feed Store. He sold the business in 1988 to John Schoenfeld. Mr. Schoenfeld then purchased another hardware store called Carpinteria Hardware Co. (owned by Chuck MacGillivray and where Buster‘s now is), and combined the two stores naming the new business, Carpinteria Home & Hardware.

Austin's forklift. (Image by Alec R.)

Chuck MacGillivray still works in the store today. Mary Omweg, another one of the previous owners, retired last summer after more than 45 years in the store.

One funny thing happened here. A man tried to steal a saw and he tried to hide it inside his clothing. When he realized that he had been seen stealing it, he tried to get it out quickly, and he cut himself! There are lots of reasons not to steal!!

Hunter Jordan, the cashier, has worked here for 4 1/2 years. She makes seasonal mobiles (shamrocks for March, bats for October, snowmobiles for December) to hang over the front desk. Be sure to look at the current one the next time you’re in the store.

There are some really nice people who work here and are extremely helpful. They can tell you how to fix things, what kind of tools you need, and give you advice about stuff.

Inside Austin's (Image by Willie H.)

This is by far the best hardware store in town!! In addition to having all the regular hardware and paint things, they have all kinds of great stuff including boogie boards, skim boards, baseball and basketball equipment, and other beach toys. Come in and have a look!!

Location associated with this article:
Austin's Home Center/True Value Hardware Store

Student who created this article:
Willie H.