BEACH HAVEN – There’s good news for those who love the Hand’s store on the Boulevard here.
It’s not going out of business, even though it’s been less than two weeks since the current owners said it was.
The popular store, which has been around since the early 1950s, will reopen under new ownership, according to the store’s Facebook page.
“Starting March 16, we begin to restock our shelves and get ready for the summer,” the post states.
The store’s winter sale, which began several weeks ago, will continue through March 15.
“Please be patient with us during this process, it will take some time to get back in fighting shape,” the post states. “Thank you everyone for your kind words and loyalty and we hope to serve this community for many years to come.”
Hand’s has always been a place to go for regulars on the island. For example, a few weeks ago, Ann Lioudis needed a new toilet seat. But she didn’t have to call a plumber or go to a retail plumbing store to get one. She knew where she could find one. She went to Hand’s.
“It’s always such a great store for anything household,” said Lioudis, who lives in the Brant Beach section of Long Beach Township.
The owners of the store and the store manager previously declined to comment on why the store is closing and its replacement. The Hand’s store in Ship Bottom closed about a decade ago.
There were many empty shelves at the store recently, but there were still plenty of bargains. Some bathing suits were only $3. Shoes on clearance were $2. What was left of the outdoor furniture was 30 percent off. Christmas items were 70 percent off. And if you wanted a pool float shaped like a pizza, they had that too.
Joan Romeo of Beach Haven Terrace dropped by the store to what bargains she could find. She was not happy the store had announced its closing.
“I’m not an online person. I’m just not happy.”
Chances are, she’s happy now. The store has sold just about anything – from furniture, clothing, cleaning supplies, pet needs and many items related to Long Beach Island.
“From our Hand’s to your house for over 50 years,” read a slogan painted on the store’s yellow delivery truck in the parking lot.
Even though the store has four cashier slots, only one was in use at the beginning of that week. It’s likely that there will be more cashiers now that the store will stay open.
One woman wrote her thoughts on the store’s expected closure on Facebook several weeks ago.
“Where will we go if we need a last minute nut/bolt, or an inner tube for my bike that has a flat, or last minute touch-up paint for a project I just ruined……or bird seed, or cocktail napkins for a last minute gathering on our deck. The list can go on and on. There is nowhere else on the island that has literally everything you need. As the old adage says…..”if Hands doesn’t have it, you don’t need it,”
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