Bryan & Brittingham to shut its doors January 31st
DELMAR, Del. – An iconic storefront in the heart of Delmar is shutting down at the end of this week. WMDT visited the town to see how community members feel about the sudden closure.
Bryan & Brittingham, the famous hardware and feed store in Delmar, as people are getting their final chance at 50% off before they close its doors.
The store posting on Facebook explaining their plan, after 7 decades of service:
“On behalf of our entire family and staff, we would like to thank you for your patronage and support for over 74 years. It has been our privilege to know each of you and to supply your feed and hardware needs.”
Timothy Brasure, who lives across the street, is disappointed to hear the news.
“I feel kind of bad that it is getting shut down. It’s been there for so long, and it’s been so convenient for me living right here, I mean it’s been there for 70-something years.”
The closing impacts everyone, including business owner Doug Marshall. A power line in his restaurant ‘The Groove’ was tripped up, and normally Doug would go to Bryan & Brittingham for the quick repair, but that soon will change.
“This is a perfect example of why local hardware stores are so valuable. Here I got something where a knucklehead gas digger putting up the heat up for the weekend, nicked up a power cable here, and in the past 77 years, you could just run up to Bryan and Brittingham.”
He continues, saying the restaurant had trouble opening up for its 3 p.m. due to the power line issue. “Now we’re running to Seaford, to Laurel, to pickup simple little parts like conduit and tinware, that we were able to buy right down the street,” said Marshall.
The store will officially close on January 31st, and many residents told WMDT off-camera that online shopping and large retail chains could be the reason.
Dough though, will miss the local camaraderie. “It’s culture, when you go in there, you get the guys behind the counter, and you could be able to say you forgot your cash, and they say no problem, and write it right down.”
And Brasure, can’t believe it, “After so long, why man?”
