Heads up, New Paltz: Michael Beck is in town — and he isn’t the guy, better-known as Mike, who has been running P&G’s for all these decades.
An Ellenville native, this Beck, the new proprietor of the former True Value of New Paltz, is the owner of two sister stores in his home town of Pine Bush, one also a True Value hardware store and the other the Home and Garden Center of Pine Bush.
The familiar establishment at 4 Cherry Hill Road in New Paltz will henceforth be known as Beck’s Home and Hardware.
Why venture over the east side of the Gunks for an expansion? “New Paltz kind of picked me,” says Beck. “Louie [Benson] wanted to move on after 19 or 20 years in the business.” Beck took over operating the store on March 13.
The sale of building supplies is considered an “essential” business, so Beck’s Home and Hardware remains open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. despite the restrictions on retail outlets during the Covid 19 crisis. Curbside pickup is available to customers who call ahead at 255-8481.
While some aspects of the operation will change — notably a major downsizing of equipment rentals — Beck says he’s going to keep it as an old-fashioned hardware store. It’ll be large in paint, “specializing in Benjamin Moore, which is very popular.” Some remodeling is in progress. About 1000 square feet of space formerly used to store rental equipment soon to be dedicated to premium pet and farm supplies, because Agway is closing. “We’ll be a Purina dealer, and service everybody’s needs in the farm feed area. We’ll be fully stocked with soils, mulches and garden tools. We’re going to double the size of the store’s inventory.” The only category of products formerly sold by Agway that won’t be available at Beck’s Home and Hardware is live plants, according to the new owner.
Customers can sign up for a Frequent Buyer discount program on Facebook and enter a drawing for a weekly giveaway of a bird feeder and bag of birdseed.
Presuming that the pandemic will have run its course by then, Beck is planning to hold a grand opening in June. “We should have it up and running by the middle of May,” he said.
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