Sebastopol Hardware Center has been a fixture in the community since opening its doors in 1965 and has built such a strong reputation for delivering friendly customer service that locals refer to it as Smile Hardware.

Doug Bishop is the store’s current President and runs it with Vice Presidents Dan Allingham and Karen Jones. Over the years, they have brought on new product lines and made changes that benefit the store and its customers. In 2010 they made a big move – literally – when they expanded to adjacent property in order to increase their offerings. The location was leased for several years, then purchased it with an SBA 504 loan so that Bishop and his partners could ensure it would remain part of the store for the long term.

Doug says his biggest point of pride at the helm of Sebastopol Hardware is serving the community. Onsite, the store’s 67 employees appreciate that customers choose to come into the store in an age when some people believe online shopping is easier. While the human touch seems to be an afterthought at many businesses, Sebastopol Hardware is thriving by making it their priority.