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seymour hardware to close doors

hard decision for ron french

Seymour Herald/Joe Karl

Ron French

By Joe Karl
jkarl@theheraldnewspapers.com

published: February 06 2008 01:51 PM updated:: February 06 2008 05:12 PM

After 23 years at the Seymour Hardware, Ron French is saying good bye to all his friends and customers.

The store is closing due to the pressures that Home Depot and Lowe’s has placed in the independent Ace Hardware Store, which has been a staple business in Seymour and a landmark for many years.

“We were just figuring the other day that the Hardware store has been here for at least 42 years,” French told the Seymour Herald.

French ends a huge part of his business life by closing the doors. After fighting it for nearly two years, he’s decided it’s time to close the doors to Seymour Hardware.

“It doesn’t make any sense, I’m loosing money everyday I’m open,” stated French.

French has already leased the space to Smoky Mountain Bikes, a bicycle shop. You can read about them in a related story in this issue.

French moved to Seymour in 1976 after he got out of the Service. His wife Gale (McMurray) is from Seymour graduated from SHS and Prospect Elementary.

The Seymour Herald will be doing a complete commemorative story on Ron, his wife and the Seymour Hardware in the February 21^st issue.

I’ve got a good loyal following – and that’s what has taken me so long to make this decision.

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User Comments

#1 John A. Meyers commented, on February 6, 2008 at 3:03 p.m.:

Another one bites the dust. So long small town mom and pops. It's a shame. I'm sorry to see another home grown business destroyed by big box (made in China) retailer. Our country is doomed!

#2 Taxes commented, on February 6, 2008 at 4:36 p.m.:

What's sad is that there taxes help fund the the big box stores that put him out of business.

I know many times I have been in his store and found prices in line or below the big box stores.

Home Depot and Lowes are also having trouble.

#3 truth writer commented, on February 7, 2008 at 7:15 a.m.:

in a few months this country is going to face the biggest downfall it has ever seen. people will suffer. thank you george bush, and dick. i hope you enjoy all the billions you made for you and your buddies,,,,,think about this in nov.

#4 NAFTA commented, on February 7, 2008 at 8:39 a.m.:

#3 Truth Writer,
President Bush has done plenty wrong, but the economy belongs to North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which was President Bill Clinton's responsibility. NAFTA was in place when President Bush took office, and there is nothing he can do to change it.

When jobs leave the country it's NAFTA which made it so easy for businesses to leave.

NAFTA took full effect on January 1, 2008, so when the company along with your job moves across the border, thank President Clinton.

#5 fact checker commented, on February 7, 2008 at 9:57 a.m.:

I thought it was a true value hardware store not ace???????

#6 Seymour Mom commented, on February 7, 2008 at 11:35 a.m.:

Ron French has always been helpful & nice when I needed help in his hardware store. I wish him the best.

#7 Days Gone BY commented, on February 7, 2008 at 1:11 p.m.:

Ron would help you with anything. try to get that kind of service at Lowes. He cared about Seymour.Another part of America goes away, remember that next time you go to Lowes or Wally World, saving a few dollars will cost you more in the drive,$ 3.00 gas. Good Luck Ron

#8 truth writer commented, on February 7, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.:

#4 oh how short a memory you rep. have. think back if your closed mind will allow it. ronald the idiot was the full cause of overseas trade going sour. you remember the big hollywood produced speach about the wall. you rep. are all alike being spoon fed so much stupidity it runs out your ears. as well as your mouth. you better get a hold of whats going on in the real world. because of all king shurb's mistakes it will take a long time for a good dem. to fix it. nov is around the corner and all you money grabbers will be on the street.

#9 sorry commented, on February 7, 2008 at 7:47 p.m.:

Good luck Ron,You were always a great help, I hope all of you folks enjoy driving to lowes,remember when lowes closed up and left south knoxville Ron was still there. But when lowes came back people ran back to lowes. I agree with #7 another part of America gone away.Soon you will only have big box stores with no products made in the USA, and no jobs!!!!!!!!!!

#10 check it out commented, on February 7, 2008 at 8:01 p.m.:

#3 truth rider
Seems to me you need to spend some time in the library. Bill Clinton is the one you need to look up and let your little brain absorb what you may find. As for Reagan how can you even speak his name? You need to keep looking for the good Democratic that you think is gonna fix things. Get a life, first wash the badd taste out of your mouth. You speak of stupidity it must be running through your vein's.

#11 seymour mom commented, on February 7, 2008 at 9:54 p.m.:

i agree with truth writer. i never paid 3dollars a gal for gas when Bill Clinton was in office. i don't think Clinton or Reagan should be blamed. I think it all falls on Bush and Channey. 8 years can't still be Clinton. And how is anyone supposed to spend time in a library when funds have been cut to keep it open late for those who work. No, I see it all to be blamed on bush. So maybe you Mr or mS check it out should do some research
good day

#12 Bob Buckholz commented, on February 7, 2008 at 10:38 p.m.:

What a shame, I remember going in there to get items, they were always like family, treated you as if they knew you your whole life.
Seems like another little guy goes in the wind because of big business.
Good Luck and God Speed.

#13 Check it out commented, on February 8, 2008 at 12:37 p.m.:

#11
First off you do have a computer, you can visit any library in the world. Doesn't take a scientice to figure that one out.Don't put the blame on Bush and Chaney. What happened when they finally figured out who won the Presidentual election between Bush and Gore? I'm sure you can't figure that one out either?

#14 Clay Davis commented, on February 8, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.:

I hate to see Mr French close his doors.I always found the Seymour Hardware store very handy.

NAFTA was initially pursued by corporate interest in the United States and Canada supportive of free trade,led by Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney,U.S.President George H. W. Bush, and the Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.The three countries signed NAFTA in December 1992, subject to ratification by the legislatures of the three countries.

I fail to see how removing trade tarrif's has hurt anyones economy especially when the Usa and Canada are each others biggest trading partners.Labor unions and meddling politicians do more harm to economics than any trade agreement.We have been supporting Asian markets for years.We will run up thousands of dollars in debt on credit cards to buy what they are peddling.I don't believe the chicken little selling hard hat stories I hear from the media about how poor how economy is doing.What concerns me is Americans will most likely elect a Democrat in Nov.We all know what her plans are,just look at her campaign ads.Her sights are on business and industry.Thats how you wreck an economy,let politicians have more control over it.

CD™

#15 My Word commented, on February 8, 2008 at 1:08 p.m.:

I don't know what a "scienitice" is but is sure looks like the problem to me!

Did you know the largest English Speaking Country in the world is China! I just wonder how many rocket scientists they have.

You might want to spend some more time at the library. Our education system went south many years ago, back in the 60's to be exact. It seems the seeds planted then are reaching full maturity now!

#16 check it out commented, on February 8, 2008 at 4:53 p.m.:

ok sorry for my stupiddity. and you know i went to the labiary and you were right. everything that has happend is bush and channay fault. please forgeve me and my ignoance. us baptist republicans think we know everthing. again my apologiyes

#17 truth writer commented, on February 8, 2008 at 4:56 p.m.:

Thank you Mr. clay davis.

#18 Farewell commented, on February 8, 2008 at 5:35 p.m.:

I am sad to see Seymour Hardware go. I've grown up with it and have always been able to count on it when I needed something. Good luck in the future Mr. French and thank you for all your years of service to Seymour.

#19 Check it out commented, on February 9, 2008 at 4:41 p.m.:

To #16
Can you not find a name for yourself without using other's? Looks like the truth has hit you hard and you didn't know the answer to my ???? I don't feel sorry for people such as yourself you lack the brain to absorb anything so sit back in your day and keep wondering what the hell is going on.

#20 Vol 1 commented, on February 9, 2008 at 5:17 p.m.:

#16 I know this person and you need to get your own blog name. It is a shame when someone else has the lack of self esteen to use other people's name.
Go Vols

#21 teacher commented, on February 9, 2008 at 11:15 p.m.:

i think check it out is a rambler. likes to talk to himself. you take life waaaaay to seriously. just watch the election, both of you will know the answer then.

#22 Raymond Finney commented, on February 10, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.:

I have only briefly met Ron French, but he seems as nice as his friends and customers indicate in these notes. Perhaps he is a victim of progress. Perhaps he cannot compete with mega-stores, such as his competitors' stores, which buy and sell in high volume. However, we lose something important, when we start closing smaller, neighborhood stores. I am saddened when smaller store merchants close their doors. It is inevitable, perhaps, but our communities are poorer for it when we lose the small-town flavor of shopping with merchants who are our neighbors. Best wishes, Ron.