Rockford's Nicholson Hardware is closing its Lawn and Garden store. Here's what to know

Nicholson Hardware plans to close its Lawn and Garden store on Third Avenue and move most of the merchandise to its primary location about a block away at 1131 2nd Ave.

Nicholson Hardware co-owner Paul Nicholson said the Lawn and Garden store at 1009 Third Ave. is part of the family-owned businesses operated by his uncle Jon Nicholson.

With his uncle planning to retire, Nicholson said most of the products and two remaining employees will be transferred to the main hardware store.

The Lawn and Garden store will close at the end of June. A repair shop that was part of the store closed a few weeks ago.

Plans are to discontinue sales of large machinery, tractors and mowers. But the store's popular lines of chainsaws, hedge trimmers, climbing gear, fertilizer, weed killer and pest control products still will be available at the hardware store, Nicholson said.

"The goal has always been to get it back under one roof," Nicholson said. "But it just hasn't been economically feasible to add on to this building and get them back under here. So the next best thing we feel that we can do is just take what we can and incorporate it into this building. If we can grow it a little bit and it warrants it, we can possibly expand on to this building and get back into some of that bigger stuff potentially."

Known for having the items big box stores often do not, Nicholson Hardware was founded in 1945 and moved to its current 25,000-square-foot location in 1971. It is a throwback to the kind of hardware store that prides itself on customer service. It has been operated by the Nicholson family for three generations.

"It'll be a challenge, because it's a lot of merchandise to move," Nicholson said. "But we feel like it's the best move for now."

Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Nicholson Hardware could follow consolidation with future expansion