Early Setback

Hardware and Lumber Limited experienced a major set back in the mid 1940’s when fire totally gutted their King Street location. This however, did not bring trading to a standstill as the entire retail operations of H & L was moved to their warehousing and wharf facilities at Marine Gardens where trading continued. The rebuilding of the King Street Branch took approximately four years, and in 1949 a bigger and brighter Hardware & Lumber retail store was re-opened at 4 King Street. The store now operated a three storey establishment – on the first floor was an American Standard® sanitary ware showroom and general retail facilities; the second floor was reserved for the country traders whose orders would be filled by the salesmen who went across the island to seek new business ; and on the third floor were the administrative offices.

Early Competition

The fire that destroyed the Hardware and Lumber store at 4 King Street in the mid 1940’s was a major setback. Competitors capitalized on H & L’s setback, and by the time they re-opened on King Street in 1949, were surrounded by other hardware and lumber merchants. Their biggest competition came from four companies. Henderson’s & Company on King Street- then managed by Hubert Arnold – an Englishman who later succeeded Lionel deCordova as H & L’s Managing Director, Webster’s & Company also on King Street, Leonard deCordova on Little Port Royal Street and Rapid Vulcanizing Co. at the corner of Duke Street.

Expansion

The proliferation of retail hardware and lumber merchants operating in Downtown Kingston in the late 1940’s, increased competition for H & L. With this came increased congestion. Customers began to complain that they had to be driving around for long periods trying to find an available parking space. As a result Hardware and Lumber started to experience a decline in sales, as once loyal customers would now simply buy their goods from the location closest to where they parked. Hardware and Lumber Limited, now managed by Hubert Arnold, in an effort to regain market share decided to seek more spacious facilities to provide a more comfortable and convenient shopping experience for their customers.

Under the leadership of Mr. Arnold twenty five (25) acres of land was purchased at Six Miles on Spanish Town Road on which was built what was then a state-of-the-art retail facility. The entire King Street retail operation was closed down “lock, stock and barrel”, and in early 1965 Hardware & Lumber Limited opened Jamaica’s first “hardware supermarket” at 697 Spanish Town Road – a location which today remains as its headquarters. This location was designed to satisfy the building boom taking place in the communities of Havendale, Duhaney Park, Harbour View and Mona. At this new location, Hardware and Lumber in keeping with market trends further diversified its product offering to include articles of clothing (which was later discontinued) and agricultural and gardening supplies.

As other housing developments were started in other areas of the island, H & L strategically opened its first branch at the corner of Maxfield Avenue and Spanish Town Roads (this branch was later closed) to be better able to satisfy the needs of the growing market. Later other branches were opened at Tropical Plaza (also later closed), Manor Park, Ocho Rios, and Montego Bay and in the late 1970’s its flagship store was opened in Lane Plaza.