Debbie Hunter, who has been sole owner of Pfau’s Hardware in West Hartford Center, confirmed Friday that Pfau’s will remain open as a hardware store but with a new owner.

Pfau’s Hardware. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

Pfau’s Hardware store owner Debbie Hunter said that she didn’t plan to sell the store after her husband died last October, and under no circumstances did she want Pfau’s to close.

And although she has now made the heart-wrenching decision to sell the business, Hunter said that the West Hartford icon will absolutely remain a hardware store.

“It hasn’t even been a week,” Hunter said Friday afternoon regarding her announced plans to go through with a sale of the store to father and son Fred Larsen Jr. and Fred Larsen Sr. of Larsen’s Hardware in Canton.

“Owning this store was my husband’s dream, and if he were still here I would be very happy to continue to share it with him,” she said. But, she said she’s tired, and she hasn’t been able to take a break since she took over as sole owner.

“I think our customers will be very happy with the choice [of the Larsens],” Hunter said. Larsen will keep their Canton store as well as running the West Hartford location, Hunter said.

“As of now the name will remain Pfau’s,” Hunter said. “The majority of the employees are staying. There won’t be a humungous difference,” she said. “I have 100 percent trust in them.”

Hunter herself will continue to work at Pfau’s, but will cut back her hours to part time following a long-awaited vacation.

Hunter said that the store is in need of a bit of a facelift, and some back-end updates to the business, and the Larsens will do that.

The sale is happening very quickly. Pfau’s will be closed for business on Monday, May 4 for the closing, and will reopen under the Larsen ownership on Tuesday, May 5.

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