Hardwick’s is a ten-minute documentary about a singular Seattle institution, the people who loved it, and the end of its century-old storefront.
The story
One of only twenty-two family-owned hardware stores left in the country, Hardwick’s became a Seattle landmark. Customers wandered through layers of specialized tools, stories, and discoveries that could not be replicated by a typical retailer.
The Hardwick family opened several businesses in the early 1900s, but the hardware store became its longest-running enterprise. As owner Dean Hardwick approached retirement, he and longtime customers shared memories stretching back decades.
A changing city
The store’s closing reflected a broader move toward a more disposable culture, where makers, repairers, and highly specialized local businesses are increasingly difficult to sustain. The film follows Dean through the transition, the demolition of the longtime Seattle location in 2019, and the family business’s next chapter online.
Outcome
Hardwick’s was accepted into the Vanishing Seattle Film Series and prepared for the festival circuit in a director’s-cut version.
Film website: hardwicksfilm.com
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