There’s a certain kind of New Jersey business that feels like it ought to be indestructible. Like, if it could be around so long that it survived disco, VHS, and dial-up internet, then it should last forever. Unfortunately, another one of those just tapped out.
Benjamin Brothers
After more than 80 years, a hardware store in Tenafly has closed its doors for good. Benjamin Brothers, under the True Value flag, served since the 1940s.
It was the kind of store that maybe helped your grandparents fix something they swore they could do themselves. And there was no YouTube tutorial on how to do it; just the patient advice of a store clerk, freely given.
This wasn’t one of those massive chain stores where you wander aimlessly for 45 minutes only to leave angry and empty-handed. This was the sort of family place where you walked in, described the problem in vague, layman’s terms, and the person behind the counter immediately knew exactly what you needed. Sometimes, before you even finish your sentence…