Rooted in the Community
For the community members of Bridgeton, Missouri, Branneky True Value Hardware store has been supplying hardware, animal feed and other general supplies since 1857. For over 150 years, the Branneky family has owned and operated the business, from the days of the Oregon Trail to the DIYers of today.
Key Takeaways
- Branneky True Value Hardware has been in business since 1857
- The operation has been owned and operated by five generations of the Branneky family, dating back to the Oregon Trail
- The store carries hardware staples and niche products like fishing bait and pig ears for dogs
Tim Branneky and his brother Jeff are the fourth generation owners. Tim’s sons, Tyler and Tanner, are a part of the operation today, representing the fifth generation working in the store.
“The road the store is on used to be an old stagecoach trail,” says Tim. “That trail turned into the Oregon Trail as folks traveled west. The road would lead them to our store where they would stock up on supplies before heading out.”
One aspect of the business the family strives for is unique items not typically found in other stores. For example, one big category for the business is plumbing and plumbing supplies. They have around 500 different parts for any contractor or DIYers needs, from modern equipment to antique items as old as the operation itself.
“Sometimes the big chain stores send their customers over here because they know we have the specific plumbing piece, which the big stores may not carry or don’t at all because it’s such a small niche item. That’s where we come in,” Tim says.
Some of the biggest selling categories for Branneky True Value Hardware include: plumbing, lawn and garden, BBQ equipment with seasonings and rubs, key fobs for vehicles, live worms for fishing bait, old time candy, and pig ears for dogs.
“We have a little bit of everything,” Tim says. “We’ll go through about 3,000 pig ears in a year. It feels like we are constantly stocking and ordering them!”
With the fifth generation joining the ranks, the Branneky True Value Hardware store will stay around for many more generations to come, staying rooted in the community they serve and love.
