Cranford Paint and Hardware to Close After Two Decades in Business

When husband and wife, Sudeep and Mini Bagchee, moved to America in the 1980’s, their first and only American jobs were owning and running Cranford Paint and Hardware.

The Bagchee’s have owned the location at 104 South Avenue East for 26 years and the store has been a staple in Cranford. Now, the store will be closing its doors as the couple plans to retire.

For the next month or two, everything in Cranford Paint and Hardware is 15 percent to 25 percent discounted. Most items are 25 percent, but paint and certain tools are 15, according to Sudeep.

It’s a bittersweet closing, but the Bagchee’s are looking forward to retirement, they said.

“We are getting tired and don’t have the energy anymore,” Sudeep said.

“In one way, we are upset,” Mini explained. However, she went on to discuss how they are excited to travel and spend more time with their children and grandchildren.

Also, the big box hardware stores have made it a bit difficult for the two during the past few years.

“All in all it’s been difficult the last two to three years,” Mini said. “But we’re surviving.”

Sudeep said the loss of a lot of manufactures and warehouses in Roselle Park and Garwood contributed to less business accounts with Cranford Paint and Hardware. However, Mini said she thinks their regular customers will really miss the store.

Cranford Paint and Hardware is opened Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale will be ongoing until basically everything is sold.

Tell us… will you miss Cranford Paint and Hardware?