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Talbott Electric to Close Century-Old Hardware Store in Pasadena

Published on Friday, October 1, 2021 | 5:52 am
 
Talbott Electric founder Joe Talbott (at right) with Floyd Allen in this undated photograph. Talbott started the business in a shed behind his home at 1384 Dominion Street in Pasadena in 1924. (Courtesy photo)

Family-owned local business Talbott Electric will close down its hardware store after nearly a century of providing electrical service and repair work to Pasadenans.

Kirk Talbott, President of Talbott Electric told Pasadena Now the firm decided to close down the retail store due to high costs of operations.

“Unfortunately it’s just costing us too much money,” Talbott said. “So I basically lost my lease and I just can’t keep doing that.”

According to Talbott, the store, located along E. Washington Blvd. will operate only until next Saturday, October 9.

He clarified however that the business will continue to provide on-site electrical service and repair work to its customers.

“The phone number and the emails and the website are all staying active and still be able to reach us and get service, whatever their service needs are.”

Talbott Electric’s hardware store has been operated in Pasadena for 97 years.

“It was started in 1924. My grandparents lived at 1384 Dominion, which is approximately two blocks away from where the store is currently. There was a separate garage. And then behind the garage, [my grandfather] built a shed, which he ran the company out of,” remembers Talbott. “And when he started it, the company was called JE Talbott. His name was Joseph. That was until about 1960, I believe, when the business was incorporated by my father and my grandfather and changed to Talbott Electric.”

Aside from offering electrical service and repair work, Talbott Electric also sells lighting fixtures and electrical supplies to its customers.

Talbott repairmen line up for a group photo in this undated image. Pictured are Dick [unknown surname], Frank Arko, Bill Jeffords, and Bill Whitney. (Courtesy photo)

Talbott admitted it is hard to keep the business alive, not only because of high operational costs but also because most people prefer to shop at stores specializing in home improvement such as Home Depots and Lowe’s.

“It’s just unfortunate, but, you know, everyone wants to save money when they purchase stuff and they don’t want to go someplace else and they want a lot of help, but you can’t get a lot of help in, you know, big stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot.”

A decisive factor prompting the firm to close its store is the expensive parts of electrical supplies, said Talbott.

“The manufacturer, they don’t even sell the parts and the price of the parts is so expensive, they just want you to buy a brand new item.”

Talbott thanked Talbott Electric’s loyal customers and vowed to still take care of their electrical service and repair needs despite the closure of its store.

Talbott Electric’s store is the third local family-owned retail store to close since 2014, when Berg Hardware on Villa Street closed. Crown City Hardware on Allen Avenue was shuttered in 2017.

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