This story is part of the West Side Rag’s new push to cover more of the Morningside Heights community from West 110th to 125th streets. If you have any tips for the area, please send them to info@westsiderag.com
By Gus Saltonstall
For nearly 40 years, any customer that walked into University Hardware & Housewares in Morningside Heights has been greeted or helped by Bob Fendell.
Fendell first started working for his uncle at the family business on Broadway between West 113th and 114th streets in 1984. Two years later, he took over the store’s management and has been there ever since.
University Hardware & Housewares first opened on the block in 1938 after Fendell’s family, who lived in the Morningside Heights neighborhood at the time, “felt there was a need for it” in the community.
The store serves as a go-to destination for incoming Columbia University and Barnard College students setting up their living spaces, along with full-time community members looking for a new lightbulb or shower cap.
“It is pretty exciting because you don’t know if a customer is going to be the next president of the United States or a person that will come across the next invention that cures a dangerous disease,” Fendell told West Side Rag, over the phone, about interacting with the students who shop at the store. “They’re all special in their own way, but someone is going to be the next Einstein. That’s what I find most exciting about it, you don’t know who is walking through that door.”
The store has gone through multiple iterations since Fendell took over in the 80s.
The original location on Broadway and 113th Street was much smaller, and in 2000 the business opened a second store on the other side of the avenue. One of the locations sold hardware supplies while the other outpost had houseware items.
In 2018, Fendell was able to sign a lease for a larger location on the same block, and he combined the two stores into one new home for University Hardware & Housewares at 2906 Broadway.
Fendell did not expect to work at the family hardware store. He instead started his career in corporate America, working for Merrill Lynch as a salesman.
“I guess I wasn’t good at it,” he said with a chuckle. “It was a lot of cold calls and people hanging up the phone on you. My uncle was getting ready to retire and he had no children. We were very close as he was also my godfather, and he asked me if I wanted to learn the business.”
“I told him, sure,” he added. “The store was a good opportunity for me.”
The Morningside Heights business sells home goods, kitchen supplies, bedroom and bathroom accessories, storage and organizational products, hardware, lighting, travel products, and more.
When it comes to Fendell’s favorite part of his longtime job, though, it’s not the products, but the interaction that happens with people within the hardware store.
“Definitely the people,” Fendell said when asked about what he likes most about going to work. “People come in because they need something — you’re not trying to sell them something they don’t need. They want to fix a lamp switch or a lightbulb, or need a pillow.”
“It’s not you trying to call somebody on the phone that you don’t know and sell them a product they don’t need,” he told the Rag in an interview, which he paused multiple times to help customers find products.
Fendell, who has two daughters that happily work in other careers, is the last member of the family to still work at the store. He hopes that the business will eventually be taken over by a group of his longtime employees.
“There are lots of repeat customers and friends that we see a lot, even their dogs become friends of the store and get their treats. I enjoy going to work, I enjoy it a lot, it is not a chore for me,” Fendell said. “I can’t believe it’s gone so fast.”
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I’ve been shopping in this store for almost 50 years. What a great guy!
So happy to see this article. Bobby is awesome and the store is like a magic hat – they literally pull out whatever you need! Everyone who works there is friendly and knowledgeable. It is like an old time shopping experience and I hope it stays there forever.
Wonderful article. Let’s have more of them.
I’ll walk 11 blocks to buy something as small as scotch-tape from University Hardware all because of Bob – he just treats his customers like they are friends. It’s a fabulous store. Thank you, Bob, and all your helpful and friendly employees.
Lovely article for a lovely store I’ve relied on for 28 years. Thank you.
Fantastic store. Great guy. Nice to see them both celebrated.
Bob Fendell is the best! So helpful and quick. I remember the old store across the street. He has my business and all my thanks.
Bob is the best. Years ago when I needed a new AC he discovered that the warranty on my old one still active for one more day – you read that correct – and got us a replacement at no cost. Talk about customer service. I can’t think of anything they don’t have on their shelves. Alway s people to help – unlike the big box stores. A true community gem.
Wonderful story. Good for Bob for searching for a way to sell to his employees!
So, was a young Barack Obama ever a customer? Inquiring minds want to know!
Correction – the location on broadway’s eastern side opened significantly later – 2008 or 2009. That location was a Kim’s Video in 2000.
The second location was on the Northwest corner of Broadway and 113.
I love that store. They were especially helpful during COVID. And they have everything, just like the old 5&10 on 110th Street, minus the parakeets. 😊
The staff members are the greatest. They are always attentive, helpful and will often find exactly what a customer needs. Thanks Bob!
Bob is an asset to the community. One can tell that he loves his job. He always seems happy to help and the store has everything.
I live lower on the UWS, but plan to trek two or so miles up Broadway to shop here. I can’t believe I’ve never done so before.
Great store. Great location.
I’ve never ceases to amaze me with his seemingly unending supplies of even remote items that one doesn’t expect to find there! The commenter who said it’s like a magician pulling something out of his hat is absolutely spot-on!
Bob is always delightful and delivers things to me even when I need something at the 11th hour! His employees and delivery people are lovely as well and very helpful I might add!
I have been shopping in University Hardware for close to 30yrs! From when they were a small hardware store, then expanded to add the corner shop to the new large location. Bob has the store stocked with everything you need and all the things you didn’t know you needed. Bob and his staff are all so friendly and what makes ‘Morningside Heights such a special neighborhood!
Maryann Johnson
Remember that every time you order from Amazon or buy an Amazon gift card for a relative or school function, you’re hurting neighborhood people like Bob (and contributing to empty storefronts). It’s great to see the WSR support local businesses. We should all do the same and shop local whenever we can!
Bob was one of the first people I met when I moved to Morningside Heights 30 years ago. I’m a regular at his store and it is a really fun place to shop! Along with lightbulbs, picture hangers, and shower curtains you can even get birthday and holiday gifts there! They even install their air conditioners. He helped me learn how to live “vertically” in the city. Bob is a wonderful human being and friend of the community. Go visit him!
Bob is great–always nice, always willing to answer questions, and will order a product if he doesn’t carry it. The employees are also nice and very helpful. The store stocks a lot useful products and is a real asset to the neighborhood. They keep good hours, and can deliver, too. It’s one of the few remaining family owned businesses in the area, and I love being able to buy there instead of Amazon or a big box store. It’s a pleasure to shop there.
Yes, wonderful store! Way more than you imagine could fit in the space. Copper polish, thread, ant traps. . . . One summer I looked all over for an affordable pair of flip flops, and found some here while looking for something else. Bob recently told me which of the many things they have for hanging things on walls would work best for the weird thing I wanted to hang on my wall – and has been helping me for years. Everyone in the store is great, super knowledgeable and helpful.
I live in Michigan, but would fly to your state just to shop in your store!!
Best ever store, best ever service, Bob has been amazing forever. Loved reading this!
This is great shout out to a terrific man who runs a good business. I’ve shopped there for 37 years, and only once did I leave empty-handed. Thanks Bob, for all you do for all of us!