Whats left from ServiStar?

 

Whats left from ServiStar?

Any of you guys remember ServiStar hardware stores? Maybe you do, maybe you don't. Anyway, I feel that I should give some info on what exactly ServiStar was before getting straight into the post.

ServiStar was a chain of locally owned, small format hardware stores (similar to ACE Hardware). The company merged with Coast To Coast hardware in 1990. ServiStar (along with Coast To Coast) was acquired in 1997 (though, announced in '96) by a similar competitor in the hardware store business, True Value. A few years later in 1999, all stores under the ServiStar banner would rebrand as True Value, become an independent hardware store not affiliated with True Value, or just flat out close, and Servistar was no more.

However, that doesn't mean that True Value, nor ServiStar, didn't leave some of itself behind.

Let's take a look...

1080 E Gun Hill Rd, The Bronx, NY 10469

Well there you have it, a well preserved ServiStar sign, still being used despite the fact that the brand is long gone.

4527 White Plains Rd, The Bronx, NY 10470

Unlike the last location, this store is currently operating as a True Value Hardware.

This location has, not just one, but two original ServiStar signs. One of them appears to not be in use and is just sitting there. The other sign is starting to fade out, specifically on parts of the logo that are in the color blue.

812 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY 14607

The store closed in 2020

Yet, original sign is still up on the building years later.

Por 67 y 69, C. 60 540, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico

And here, all the way in Mexico, we have ServiStar... Club?

I'm assuming that this is completely unrelated to the original Servistar chain or True Value Hardware, rather, it's just a bootleg store using the original name. I could be wrong, however, as this is all just purely speculation.

C. 15 No.128, Miguel Hidalgo, 97220 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico

Calle 59 478 X 56 y 54, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico

It would appear that "ServiStar Club" is actually a small chain of stores in Mexico having somewhere around 5 stores (not all shown here), all of which are still currently open and operating under the ServiStar name. Maybe it's not a bootleg, rather, an attempted relaunch... but honestly I have no idea.

8050 Philadelphia Rd, Rosedale, MD 21237

787 S Arlington St, Akron, OH 44306

The store has since rebranded as Do It Best

And all of the ServiStar signs have since been taken down and replaced.

Except for this one, which is behind the building.
You can see how they tried to paint over the logo and now, not only does the logo still show up clear as day, but the original colors are also starting to come through.

160 S 10th St, Sunbury, PA 17801

One thing to note here is that ServiStar had 2 different types of stores, there were the typical "hometown" feel hardware stores, and than there were the lumber yards, which of course, only sold lumber. This store was one of said lumber yards. The building itself doesn't quite resemble ServiStar, though. There's no branding for it anywhere on the building.

The sign however, is a different story.

1201 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204

This has to be one of the smallest hardware stores that I've ever seen

A few days after publishing this post to Blogger, I discovered more remnants from the long gone brand.

642 S Main St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

Also, another thing that I feel should be mentioned is that on the side of this particular hardware store is a painted sign advertising Cook & Dunn Paints, which, like ServiStar, also appears to be long gone brand.

17699 SE 29th St, Choctaw, OK 73020

The store is still currently operating as True Value

The sign might be rusty, but it still shows.

This is the ServiStar road sign but it would appear that the logo has since been removed

#9-30 a, Cl. 4a #986, San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia

Here's something new, this location has both the True Value & ServiStar logos right next to each other, front and center. 

It's also worth noting that this store is in the country of Columbia. ServiStar (believe it or not), was an international company with stores in the US, Canada, Columbia, South Africa, and probably some other countries as well (which makes the stores in Mexico more likely linked to the original chain)

6604 Fresh Pond Rd, Ridgewood, NY 11385

I know the gate is closed in the photo but the store is still open for business. This location is also still currently operating as a True Value franchise.

There's no True Value branding, though?

However, there's still ServiStar branding

2 W Main St, Panama, NY 14767

If a ServiStar location closed before I made this post, I wonadd it onto this list unless the sign stayed up after closure and is still there to this day. It would appear that this store is an example of that, though the sign has since been painted the same color as the building, as a way of hiding it, I guess?

Photo of the store from 2009

All of the following stores have been added here after the original blog was published, as a way to update the post.

106 Chestnut St, Audubon, NJ 08106

170 Main St, Imperial, PA 15126

The store appears to have been closed for years now, none of the signs were taken down and lots of merchandise was left behind.

2543 Stillwell Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11223

The brand name is hidden, but its still there

3336 Bailey Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215

Welcome to ABC Hardware

Or should I say, ServiStar ABC Hardware

480 Dodge Rd, Getzville, NY 14068

Ok, so here's a new one, while not technically a store under the ServiStar brand, it still applies...

...As it is a remnant from Home & Garden Showplace, a chain of stand alone nursery's started by ServiStar. The brand still exists, as it's still being used by True Value, but they seem to still be a somewhat rare species.

3420 Carrollton Rd, Carrollton Township, MI 48724

63 Coburn Ave, Gardner, MA 01440

This is the Chairtown Lumber Company in Gardner, MA

This is their current location in a newer building...

...Which is right next to their older building

I'm not sure if they use the older building for storage or if its even for sale

But I find it kind of interesting how it looks like tried to scratch their name off of the old sign, but didn't even touch the ServiStar logo

1919 S Westwood Blvd, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

Another store which has both ServiStar and True Value branding

129 Wooster St, Lodi, OH 44254

Notice the True Value sign in the window

When I originally added this store onto the post, I forgot to add the location. Currently I have no idea where this store is.

2113 Midland Blvd, Fort Smith, AR 72904

123-24 Rockaway Blvd Suite A, Queens, NY 11420

It's been a while since I've updated this post, but here we are

1120 E Rose St, Lakeland, FL 33801

Hardy's Hardware in Lakeland still has their ServiStar sign

16 Maine Ave, Gardiner, ME 04345

So, whats left of ServiStar?

Well, there appears to be a good few ServiStar signs hanging around, however, when compared to how many stores the company had vs how many signs still show the branding, theres not much left of Servistar, but company still somehow sticks around in some parts. Sort of like a rare hidden gem. 

All these stores might be True Value on the inside, but on the outside, the ServiStar brand still shines, as if it never left.

That about does it for todays blog post.

Thanks for reading :)

If I find any more ServiStar remnants in the near future, I'll update this post and add them here, I'm still on the lookout for more reminders of this chain.

All images are from Google Maps / Google Street View. I take zero credit for any of these photos