Archer Hardware Store
March 28, 2018 By Tara Law
Archer Hardware Store, which has been in Jackson Heights for 79 years, will close Saturday.
Vasantal “Victor” Mehta, 72, has operated the store at 73-21 Broadway with his wife, Jayaovaben, for 35 years. The pair have decided that its time to retire.
Mehta, who moved to Queens as a young man from the Indian province Gujarat, purchased the hardware store from a man named Mr. Goldstein after answering an ad in the newspaper.
Mehta, in recent times, has tried to sell the store, but he has not found a buyer.
Vasantal “Victor” Mehta, Owner of Archer Hardware Store
“The business is different now,” said Mehta. “Nobody wants to buy a hardware store.”
Mehta said that he believes customers are more interested in buying goods online and in “giant” stores.
Mehta, however, is a strong advocate of small hardware stores.
“They’ve got better service, actually,” he said. “They’re very fast. When you go to the big stores, you’re there for an hour.”
Mehta plans to spend his retirement with his seven grandchildren and at his temple, the Jain Center of America, and to visit his family back in India.
The store is currently offering up to 50 percent off on hardware supplies.
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3 Comments
I’m the original owner of Archer Stores. My father Bill Goldstein and Jack Band opened after WW2. They both retired and I ran the store till I sold it to Mr Mahta. I’m glad that he had a successful career and I’m sure my hardware store needs a rest. It served its purpose to the neighborhood and I thank you. Mike
Yeah how things change
Put a giant kabob restaurant there that also sells plumbing parts and wrenches
A terrible shame. And, yes, if you go to a large chain, you are ther for at least an hour…often with employees who do not know the products!