Hooker Hardware Celebrates Store Opening

March 21, 2013

Camden Rundles spins the wheel of chance to try to win a prize at the Hooker Hardware And Auto grand opening celebration as his sister, Paitlyn; brother, Parker; and mom, Janie, watch. Herald Photo By Nancy Kletecka

The Hooker Hardware and Auto store at 20,000 square feet is an impressive site on Highway 54 in the heart of Hooker, drawing the attention of many a motorist.
And since its opening on December 16, 2012, the store has been doing very well, according to store manager Craig Adams.
“Business has been excellent,” Adams said, noting that the location on the highway has been a plus which draws customer who are commuting to and from work.
“We get a lot of surrounding community traffic in the store,” he said.
In celebration of their opening, the store served up free hotdogs March 8 and 9 as well as offering a discount for items purchased.
“We had 500 hotdogs and we served all but 10 or 12 of them,” Adams said. “Customers who came in could get a free five gallon bucket and then 25 percent off of anything they could fit in the bucket.”
Adams said the handed out 330 of the buckets and when they were gone, they went to plan “B”.
“Then we used some shopping bags so people could still take advantage of the sale,” he explained.
In spite of a change in weather, customers flocked to the new store.
“We were full force in the lumber shed (serving hotdogs),” dogs),” Adams said. “We had originally planned on doing it outside but the weather got a little nasty.”
The store isn’t alone in being new to Hooker, Adams is new as well.
“I grew up in Southwest Kansas,” Adams said. “For the past 31 years I lived in Fritch, Texas and have been working in the education business.”
Adams is pleased with the community, who he says, “welcomed me with open arms.”
The opening of the new store created 10 new jobs in the Hooker community.
Items available in the store include lawn and garden, outdoor furniture supplies, lumber, plumbing and electrical supplies.
“We also have Napa auto parts and if you can’t find something in our store - we can most likely order it for you,” Adams said.
Prize winners for the day were: kids’ prizes - Jena Rose, a large giraffe; Kalie Hofferber, a doll; and Chase Duncan, a car. Adult prize winners were: Jose Garcia, patio set; Patty Mills, line trimmer; Jerry Allen, popcorn popper; Ricki Freeman, gas grill; Evelyn Witzke, Roundup; Roger Pritchard, two piece drill kit; Gwen Hanson, power washer; Holly Rivera, mower; and Stuart Lower, spreader. Winners of the NAPA gift certificates were: $25 - Katie Kramer, Patty Mills, Betty Herbel, and Jan Hussey; $100 - Holly Davis.
All in all, Adams said they had a great two days of celebration. He invited everyone to “come check out what we have in the store.”
Note: According to Adams, the store is owned by a “limited partnership”. The definition of a limited partnership according to the dictonary is “a business organization with one or more general partners, who manage the business and assume legal debts and obligations, and one or more limited partners, who are liable only to the extent of their investments. Limited partners also enjoy rights to the partnership’s cash flow, but are not liable for company obligations.”