Family Run For 120 Years, Becker Hardware In Colts Neck To Close

COLTS NECK, NJ — Family and Monmouth County history are blended in the story of Becker Hardware, the landmark Colts Neck business that will be closing after four generations of ownership.

Much like the store's famous local grass seed, it was that special mixture of expertise, salesmanship and family ties that helped Becker Hardware thrive for its 120 years of existence.

But the challenges of COVID, supply chain glitches and the growing preference for impersonal online shopping combined to bring things to an end, says owner Art Becker.

The store announced this week it is closing in April and a retirement sale for the business will start March 17. The property - not the business - is under contract for sale, owners said.

When real estate queries came his way, Becker said, he and his two sons realized "It was time."

Art Becker said the last three years have been tough ones. COVID reduced the number of people willing to work in a store environment. Art Becker's sons didn't want him exposed, at age 77, to any health threat so he primarily handled the phones and other aspects of the business rather than sales.

But with so many people either working from home or just furloughed at home, the demand for home repair and landscaping products was booming as customers tackled projects.

And that trend hit the supply-chain freeze. Even if suppliers could provide goods, transportation was delayed. Some natural disasters in the country, such as floods, slowed manufacturing. Power tools? It was so hard for manufacturers to get parts, Becker said, they would ration how many he could order.

Then there was the less tangible, but equally critical, shift in people's psyche.

Principles of service gave way to cheaper and faster online shopping, Becker said.

"We believe strongly in facing our customers, giving them advice," he said, noting that hands-on personal service was a hallmark of the Becker family for four generations - and not one he or his sons, Dan and Jeff, planned to stray from.

Or, as Art Becker put it, "It would turn my stomach to go online."

But Art Becker was a fan of one form of technology - radio - in promoting the business.

He advertised for years on the local WJLK radio station, and his distinctive deep voice was a natural for the medium - he could make grass growing sound exciting.

The store was famous for its custom blend of local grass seeds developed with area agriculture experts that were ideal for Monmouth County conditions.

And his commercials would invite customers to "Buy it right from the barrel, only at Becker Hardware in Colts Neck."

So naturally the decision to close the business was a tough one.

“We will greatly miss our loyal customers and being a part of the Colts Neck community for over 50 years,” Art Becker said in the announcement of the closing.

“Closing the store was a very difficult decision for the entire family. We leave the business with great warmth and appreciation for the many employees that we had over the years, as well as our suppliers, and everyone who has walked through our doors,” he said.

A family legacy through generations

The business has literally been in Art Becker's blood.

His grandfather, Morris Becker, a Lithuanian immigrant to America, opened his first hardware store in New York City in 1903, and he relocated to Red Bank in 1923.

The Shrewsbury Avenue location was successful, and in 1937, Morris Becker's son, Joe Becker (Art's father), took over management of the store.

During the next several decades, they built additions to the property, and, in 1969, Art - the only son of the family - joined the business.

Their customer base continued to expand, so, in 1971, they purchased 3½ acres on Highway 34 in Colts Neck, which is the store’s current site, according to the statement about the store's history provided by Gail Becker, Art Becker's sister.

Art Becker's sons entered the business in the 1990’s, and the family has continued to serve "generations of loyal customers with the same kind of personal service, trust and quality products established by Art’s father and grandfather."

“We celebrate our family’s success in guiding a retail business for four generations,” said Dan Becker. “Closing the store,” added Jeff, “represents the end of a long chapter in our family history.”

And the family notes that long-time customers are stocking up on items they will no longer be able to purchase – such as premium power equipment, garden products and, of course, Becker’s custom blended grass seed mixtures. Get it while it's still there.