Hardware store was an important community asset

June 28, 2006

EDITOR: The news of Rex Hardware burning to the ground last Saturday night traveled faster than the fire that leveled that noble building. The Kentucky Street fire of 2002 was certainly tragic enough, but there is something especially poignant about this fire and its immediate effect on Petaluma. For those of us who regularly plied those wonderful swaying and creaking wood 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 business. No Home Depot, Lowes or Orchard Supply can ever hope to re-create the cozy and true feel, and classy service-first ambience 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 rebuilt and reborn soon. Petaluma needs you. Thank you so much for being the kind of business that makes us proud to live here.

MIKE WITTE, Petaluma