A New Chapter Begins for Lake Hardware

 By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

 For Halloween, Lake Michigan pulls out all the stops. They close off the main street for a trunk or treat and the entire downtown turns out. What better time for Joe and Arika Reno to officially celebrate their grand opening of Lake Hardware. The food truck, Smokin' Pigs by Bigs was on hand to feed those attending the festivities.

The Renos added the hardware to their busy lives in June and took over in July. Arika is a real estate agent and between them they have eight children, two grandchildren, a really cute dog and a very full plate!

Arika is a licensed real estate agent with Three Pines Realty LLC, another family business located in Lake.

In the spring they also purchased a farmhouse that had been in Arika’s family for over 110 years. With their roots and their future clearly in Lake, they decided to take the leap with the purchase of the hardware.

“This place was for sale and on a whim, we thought it would be cool to own a hardware. And everything fell in line. We had the inspection and we thought something was going to come up and not work. It just kept working and now here we are.” said Arika.

The hardware was built in the early 1950s and has operated under several families since then, always as a hardware/sporting goods store. The Renos purchased it from Sherry Dandron who ran it as Sherry's Lake Hardware and Sporting Goods. Arika realized from the beginning they would have big shoes to fill as Sherry owned the business since 1990 and was popular and successful serving the community.

“I’ve got big plans as we own the side lot next to us. I want to do customer bathroom section, greenhouse items, lumber. I’ve got big dreams.” said Arika of the products that could possibly offer in the future and how their space could be used.

“Everyone has been so supportive. We have had people coming in to tell us the building looks great.” 

The most notable change the Renos have made is to the exterior. A new sign, paint and façade work were their first steps. Inside the paint corner has been revamped and a few other small changes. They’ve added chicken, rabbit and duck feed. They plan to add a crafting section, and they are open to adding any products in demand.

Lake Hardware is located at 7861 Mystic Lake Drive in Lake. They are open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Visit their website at www.thelakehardware.com/ and follow them on Facebook at The Lake Hardware.