Hardly a better hardware story

Lolita Harper

It sits off the major boulevard now, with faded paint and a

lackluster interior. But the memories created at Wright’s Hardware in

Costa Mesa have not diminished with time.

The hardware store, which now specializes less in hardware and

more in nuts and bolts, machinery and consignment, was opened in 1932

by the Wright family of Costa Mesa. At the time, the modest store had

prime window fronts on the busiest thoroughfare in the city --

Newport Boulevard.

It was dubbed the “U do it” headquarters and housed pristine

aisles of tools, hardware, firewood, paint, plumbing, electrical and

war supplies. It was the place to shop, insiders say. If you couldn’t

find it at Wright’s, you couldn’t find it anywhere.

Many of the city’s original homes, which displayed unparalleled

craftsmanship, were build with materials from Wrights, said manager

Sam Camm. And before the advent of Home Depot and other large chain

hardware stores, Wright’s flourished as a neighborhood staple.

The Wright family lived in a humble Costa Mesa home when most of

the roads were still covered in dirt. Original owner H.W. Wright

opened his business in a time when little surrounded it on Newport

Boulevard but large trees and small structures.

Wright’s boasted an attractive store front, with a brick entryway,

large, pictorial windows and bright red signs.

The 81-year-old business is still in the family and is now owned

by grandson Jeff Wright. Its exterior has faded and the main building

moved off the strip. The interior is missing its retail feel and now

looks like an industrial variety store.

Most people go to large chains for your average hammers or

screwdrivers but long-timers still know to visit Wright’s when they

are looking for exclusive items.

“We still have 100-year-old men who refuse to go anywhere else

because they know we will always have what they need,” Camm said.

* LOOKING BACK runs Sundays. Do you know of a person, place or

event that deserves a historical Look Back? Let us know. Contact

James Meier by fax at (949) 646-4170; e-mail at

james.meier@latimes.com; or mail her at c/o Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay

St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627.