Pollock’s Hardware Co-op
Pollock’s Hardware is counting on creativity, determination and good-old-fashioned pluck to get the 97-year-old landmark store to the 100-year mark.
While their pluck may be old-fashioned, it’s time for the North End institution to face the future. A little luck along with that pluck will come in handy, too. Local Beat spoke with Mike Wolchock, a previous Pollock’s manager and current board director, about what’s next for the storied shop.
Q: Will you bring us up to date on the happenings at Pollock’s?
A: The previous board voted to wind up the co-op and close Pollock’s. Before they could close, it had to be brought to a vote before the co-op membership. Members came to the February 16 meeting and overwhelmingly voted to keep the store open. The previous board resigned, and a new interim board of directors was elected.
Q: Where do things stand now?
A: We need to get people back shopping at Pollock’s, and sales returned to the levels they were at a couple of years ago. It’s a balancing act between having the inventory to sell, and the investment in the inventory.
Q: What plans are in the works?
A: We plan to drive new customers with our Benjamin Moore Paint offerings, for one. It is a great product with promotions we can be a part of. And when people are waiting for their paint to be mixed, they often wander off to housewares to look around.
Q: What will people find in a revived Pollock’s?
A: We’re looking at taking in trade shows to find new products. There will always be the screws and fuses, but we also want to carry what no one else has – and become a destination shop where someone buys something special like a birthday, wedding shower or Christmas present.
Q: Why do you think Pollock’s has struggled?
A: I think it’s been taken for granted. It’s like a mechanic – you only need one when your car breaks down. We need to give people other reasons to visit. In many ways, the old guard has moved on and it’s time to make room for the new.
Q: Who is the new guard?
A: No one knows how to fix things anymore, but soon they’ll have to. A transition is happening. Millennials are growing up and will have to step up. In this neighbourhood, gentrification isn’t pushing people out. People are finding attractive places to live, with heritage features. They’ll be looking for goods and the stuff to fix things close to home. They’ll have someone to talk to and answer their questions here.
Q: What about the nostalgia and love people have for Pollock’s?
A: Pollock’s has a dedicated following. It’s like Jeanne’s Cake or Winnipeg rye bread. We have to keep our past in mind but live in the moment. People may still come in asking for lye, mothballs and rat poison, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a better way. They’ve built a better mousetrap. We sell it!
Q: Now that Pollock’s has been saved, what else can people do to ensure it sticks around to 100 and beyond?
A: Shop here! There’s also a Go Fund Me to help with cash flow, and we’re looking for people to join an advisory committee to support the board. Interested folks who believe in Pollock’s – please email us at pollockshardwarecoop@gmail.com with your area of interest and expertise.
All photos by Kristhine Guerrero
