CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The beloved Clark and Devon Hardware store in Rogers Park celebrated its 100-year anniversary on Wednesday with a special customer appreciation event.
“It’s customer appreciation day,” said Ken Walchak. “In honor of our 100 years and becoming an employee-owned store, we decided anybody that makes a purchase, they can come on and get lunch on us.”
Walchak’s grandfather founded the store in 1924.
“He was a tailor from Russia who knew nothing about the hardware business,” Walchak said. “[He] opened a hardware store; his wife thought he was crazy, and 100 years later, we’re here.”
Walchak and his brother Ed took over in the mid ’70s. In 2023, though, they retired and passed the store onto its employees — including store President Xan Flink, who started as a cashier 16 years ago.
“For me, there’s kind of a lot of emotions around that and maintaining the legacy that was built before us,” Flink said. “So, I guess that’s kind of the big thing for me. Just honoring the great company that was built by the Walchak family.”
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