Hardware store will be rebuilt

Owner lauds community support after $1 million fire destroys historic business

June 28, 2006

By DAN JOHNSON
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

As a fatigued Jeff Tomasini stood in front of the remains of his beloved hardware store Monday morning, drivers and pedestrians stopped virtually every minute to offer their sympathy and help.

"Thousands of people have come by, showing more love and support than I ever thought was possible," Tomasini said. "And they all ask the same question: 'Are you going to rebuild?'

"The answer is a definite 'yes.'"

After a two-alarm fire gutted Tomasini's Rex Ace Hardware and Country Store at 313 B St. on Saturday night, Tomasini's family members and employees were shocked and devastated. But they never expected such an outpouring of love from the community.

"Jeff, I was so sorry to hear about it," said an elderly woman, nearly sobbing, after stopping her car at the curb on Monday.

Within seconds, a young man pulled up in his pickup truck.

"Hey buddy, just let me know how and when I can help," he said.

Tomasini hasn't had time to even think about the costs involved or how much time it will take, but he already has obtained demolition permits and is receiving bids to begin removing debris from the area. He then wants to begin designing a new building that replicates the original structure as closely as possible.

"I hope he has enough insurance coverage to deal with the fire," said Petaluma resident Ed Vota, who visited Tomasini at the site on Monday. "I used to buy things here all the time, and purposely paid 5 cents more if I needed to because I liked dealing with these nice local people."

"It was one of my favorite places in Petaluma," wrote John Records, executive director of Committee on the Shelterless. "It had real character and charm, and served a very useful purpose.

"Its loss reminds me of Quinley's, Mike's at the Yard and the Silver Penny Retreat Center. Each of these was from another era, part of what made Petaluma special, and certainly not a cookie-cutter franchise operation."

"People talk about the charm and old feel of the store, but it was more than that: The employees who worked there were very helpful to people," said Carolyn Albinana, owner of KCO Clothing at 122 Kentucky St. "Any time I needed help with one of my displays, they were there for me."

The store had 10 employees, all hired over 10 years ago. Some of them, including Jim Mattei and Joe Pacheco, were busily helping and supporting Tomasini Monday morning.

"It was wonderful having such a store in the downtown area," said Susan Villa, president of the Petaluma Historical Association. "It wasn't just a hardware store: It had everything from hammers and nails to a bridal registry.

"The staff had a wealth of information, and always was willing to help. And it was the type of hardware store a woman enjoyed going to, because the employees didn't try to intimidate or take advantage of us."

Villa works in the Petaluma Museum at 20 Fourth St., kitty-corner from the Rex Hardware building. The structure housing the hardware business was constructed in 1851, and the museum building was completed in 1906.

"When a research team meets upstairs to discuss a project, I sometimes look out and think about all the things the windows have seen over the past 100 years," she said.

Villa said that in 1902, the two-story, wooden Rex Hardware building housed Case's Horseshoeing, Tamale Parlor, Henry Myer's Eagle Saloon and a grocery store. It also previously housed a blacksmith-carriage repair company, veterinarian's office, barber shop and possibly a bordello.

"There may have been one in the parking lot," Villa said.

Rex Hardware was founded in 1907, and originally occupied a building across the street. After a fire gutted the structure in 1942, the hardware store moved to the building at 313 B St. At the time, the George Hobbie family ran the business, and Jeff's father, Henry Tomasini, took it over in 1957.

Over the years, the store's charm caught the eye of many Bay Area journalists, including former San Francisco writer Herb Caen, who mentioned it in two columns. Sunset Magazine and KRON-TV in San Francisco also featured the store.

Though over 150 years old, the structure housing the store was regarded as a solid building. But Petaluma Fire Department personnel often feared that it was very vulnerable to a major fire because of the abundance of paint and other flammable items.

On Saturday, witnesses reported fire and smoke coming from the building at 8:35 p.m., and three people quickly smashed a window and began using fire extinguishers to battle the blaze. Fire crews arrived three minutes later, and eventually, 30 firefighters from seven local agencies fought the fire for three hours. They limited it to the hardware building, which suffered $1 million in damages, half structural and half contents.

Petaluma fire investigators announced Monday that the fire was caused by a flood lamp or an electrical short in a conjunction box. Fire Marshal Michael Ginn said that most likely, the fire began with a 50-watt flood lamp, timed to turn on every night at 8 p.m. to illuminate a window display.

Over time, the heat from the lamp could have charred the window molding or display box, making it more susceptible to igniting, Ginn said, adding that an electrical short also could have caused the fire, since a conjunction box was in the same area.

As many local residents lament the sudden loss of the authentic, old-time feel of the store, including the famous, creaky wooden floorboard, they also rejoice in the planned re-appearance of the customary wide variety of goods, and the intimate customer service that even raging flames cannot destroy.

"For those of us who regularly plied those wonderful swaying and creaking floors at Rex, rushing to pick up our missing 7-cent bolt, 5-cent nut or 3-cent washer, this place exuded a sense of what is right about small, community-owned and run businesses," Petaluma resident Mike Witte wrote. "No Home Depot, Lowe's or Orchard Supply can ever hope to recreate the cozy and true feel, and classy service-first ambiance, that Tomasini Rex Hardware has provided our fine town."

"To Jeff Tomasini and all the very familiar and savvy folks who have helped so many of us weekend warriors (as well as the true professionals out there), we hope to see your important community asset re-built and reborn soon. Petaluma needs you. Thank you so much for being the kind of business that makes us proud to live here."

(Contact Dan Johnson at djohnson@arguscourier.com) -->

MAJOR FIRES IN DOWNTOWN PETALUMA

Downtown Petaluma has experienced numerous major fires over the past century. These are some of them.

Nov. 18, 2002: A faulty water heater ignited a fire that gutted five businesses in the 100 block of Kentucky Street, including Buona Sera restaurant. Less than two years later, a new structure was completed that now houses Infusions bar, Louis Thomas men's wear and other businesses.

Dec. 13, 1993: The recently renovated Mahoney building at 246 Petaluma Blvd. North went up in flames. Damage was placed at $350,000.

May 7, 1987: Furniture cleaning rags left in the basement of the Apple Box at 124 Kentucky St. led to spontaneous combustion. The kitchenware and gift store suffered $300,000 in damages. After a community fund-raiser, the business re-opened in the Great Petaluma Mill.

Dec, 9, 1984: The Great Petaluma Mill annex on Petaluma Boulevard caught fire. Damage to the building and contents was estimated at $400,000.

Aug. 12, 1979: The Antique Emporium on the second floor of the Great Petaluma Mill caught fire at 6:34 p.m. The Steamer Gold Restaurant was evacuated, but it sustained no damage. Damage was contained to the store where the fire originated.

Jan. 2, 1978: The Friedman Brothers Hardware building on East Washington Street was destroyed by a fire. The Downtown River Apartments are now located on the site.

Jan. 1, 1977: Beasley's Restaurant at 170 Petaluma Blvd. North suffered major damage and one person died in an early-morning fire.

Aug. 20, 1975: The Petaluma Cooperative Creamery at Western Avenue and Upham Street was damaged by a fire. The fire was contained to a second-floor stockroom, where bundles of cartons and boxes containing plastic milk bottles had caused it to spread rapidly.

May 6, 1968: Fire destroyed the Continental Hotel at Western and Kentucky streets. Firemen were stunned when they watched the second story of the hotel crash to the ground. The hotel and all four street-level businesses were destroyed. Washington Mutual bank is now on the site.

July 4, 1967: The Golden Eagle Milling Co. at Second and C streets was destroyed by fire.

June 30, 1964: The Elks Club on the east side of Kentucky Street, next to the Hideaway bar, burned.

Aug. 5, 1957: A fire began in the balcony of the then California Theater (now the Phoenix), originally built in 1896 as the Hill Opera House. The building burned between the roof and the false ceiling for about seven hours before the fire was brought under control.

Dec. 22, 1955: The Safeway store at Keller Street and Western Avenue, located near the current Petaluma Market, was damaged in a fire.

1955: Petaluma Auto Body at Washington and Liberty streets was destroyed.

1950s: A Brainerd Jones-designed building on the east side of the 100 block of Kentucky Street burned to the ground and was not rebuilt, creating space for the Golden Concourse walkway.

Jan. 9, 1943: The Stone Furniture building at 127 Keller St. was damaged.

June 21, 1942: The Schindler Bakery (where Shutterbug is now located) and Rex Hardware Co. (current site of Tuscan Gardens) were destroyed by fire. Rex resettled in its warehouse across B Street.

Aug. 17, 1917: The Gem Theater on the east side of Main Street (now the site of Graziano's restaurant) was heavily damaged in a fire. An electrical malfunction with a new electric pump organ was the cause.

Sources: "Petaluma Fire Department History: 1857 to1964" by Norman Carpadus, Susan Villa of the Petaluma Museum and Historical Library, City of Petaluma Fire Department.