Local institution Crest Hardware might soon be closing, according to a post on Reddit.

The store is a staple for the community selling hardware, home goods, and plants. The shop also famously had a pet pig.

The shop opened in 1962, founded by Manny Franquinha, who passed away in 2017.

The store has been the center of the local community sponsoring pumpkin carving and arts shows. It adapted too as the neighborhood changed, offering an increasing variety of household goods that are often hard to come by, and essentials for moving into a new apartment.

A decade ago, the store sponsored Crest Fest, an arts and music festival that perhaps epitomized the early 2000s hipster scene in the neighborhood, but also endearingly genuine supporting small artisans, musicians, and bringing together “new” people from the community.

It’s likely the property will soon be redeveloped into apartments. A portion of the lot previously — the storage yard and the space that once held the Crest Fest, was redeveloped into housing. According to Trulia, the property was sold in February for $1.7m, a good indication the property will be redeveloped, although there is no announced building plan.

Crest Hardware
558 Metropolitan Ave
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