Carl Weidetz – the owner of the OB Hardware store. Photos by Frank Gormlie
Carl Weidetz – the owner of the OB Hardware store on Newport Avenue – gave this reporter hope that there may yet be a positive end result in the current saga of the future of the store.
On Tuesday, the 8th, as I entered one of the most popular storefronts on OB’s main commercial drag – one that is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year as a business, Carl had a friendly smile and outstretched hand for this reporter.
And in a few minutes of discussion, Carl – who is definitely retiring very soon – told me that there are two possible groups of buyers who want his store. But there’s been a hang-up, he said, in talks between “the lawyers”.
“There’s no sense in buying my business,” he said, “if you can’t get the lease too.”
So, in a nutshell, if the lease issues are worked out, there are buyers out there who would purchase the storefront in order to keep it going. If that happens, Carl said, his OB Hardware store could remain open until April.
If it doesn’t work out, he’s closing down – as previously reported – at the end of this February. And then there will be sales for his hardware merchandise; first one for 10%, then 25%, 50% – and then he said with a wry smile, “I’ll be giving it away.”
Weidetz – who graduated from Point Loma High School in 1965 and who now lives in Spring Valley – has been working on Newport Avenue for 50 years. Even though he’s ready to retire, he seemed positive about new owners taking over.
Despite no firm resolution as of this writing, ostensibly there is no story here. But OBceans should have hope that one of their favorite shops could still be around if given new life.
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