100-year-old hardware shop in Queens has been family-run for generations

QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) -- A family-owned hardware shop in Queens just celebrated its 100th birthday. Now, the community is honoring the generations-old business.

When you walk into Bartunek Hardware in Astoria, the nostalgia is heavy. Memories are scattered throughout.

Henry Bartunek, a handyman, opened the store in January 1925, running it for decades with his wife, Lilly.

Their son Eddie grew up in the shop before taking it over himself with his wife, June. The two had three kids themselves, including Gary Bartunek.

While Gary officially took over the business in the 80s, he spent much of his childhood inside the walls with his family.

“My grandmother used to work here also because my grandfather used to go on jobs. And there was a customer who came in here and said thank you, and I said you’re welcome and my grandmother said, 'No, you have to thank them,'" Gary said. “I was 5 or 6 years old and she was teaching me to be patient with the customers, which my grandfather was really patient with them.”

This past weekend, the family was honored for its service to the community with a street co-naming at the corner of 23rd Avenue and 28th Street. 

"All I was thinking about that day with the street signing was my grandfather, grandmother, my father, my mother, those guys that were here before me and kept the store going," Gary said.

Gary’s wife, Mary, said many factors have contributed to the business’ longevity.

“It has a real kind of community feel, and there’s a lot of laughter and hard work that happens, a lot of joy," Mary said. “We don’t have the pressure other businesses have of escalating rents that eventually become so high that people can’t make a profit, so we have been so lucky that Henry made the decision 100 years ago to buy the building.”

His son Daniel Bartunek added that the key to their success has always been putting the customer first.

“The amount of stuff we have here. People can come here and we give advice," Daniel said. "We have handymen here, plumbers here.”

Gary still works half days six days a week, but when he fully retires, Daniel will take over. And maybe his 1-year-old son Brandon will be next in line. 

"It makes me feel very good and honored that people supported this store for 100 years and kept coming back," Gary said.

The Bartuneks say this is their home, and they hope it will be around for generations to come.