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By Mike Parker / Staff

One month from today, Cavanaugh Ace Hardware will end its 120-year run in South King County. The closure wasn’t in the Cava-naughs’ plans, but they plan to make the best of their last month.

The fourth-generation owners had high hopes for a new location in a multi-use project at the corner of Division and Main streets in downtown Auburn. That had been the plan since October 2004 when the store entered into the deal with land devel-oper Plan B Development, LLC.

To move the plans along in 2006, owners Pat and Jan Cavanaugh moved their store to a temporary location near the multiuse project.

Two years later, the Cavanaughs were still wait-ing for the stalled project

to take off. After discussing a number of options, the husband-and-wife owners decided it was best to close.

“We knew it would be tough because of Auburn transforming,” Pat Cavanaugh says, “but it’s been two-and-a-half years now. We just can’t keep feeding this anymore.”

Their upcoming closure hasn’t gone unnoticed. Pat Cavanaugh says the outpour-ing of support from custom-ers has been almost over-whelming.

To thank shoppers for their patronage over the years, the store is hosting a contest that will continue until closing day. Customers get Bingo-like cards that are stamped for every purchase. Special theme days, such as “Tell a Joke Day,” are a chance to earn extra stamps.

A day or two before the store closes on April 19, the

staff will award prizes to the six customers with the most cards stamped. Prizes include a Broil-Mate barbecue grill, a Samsung mini camcorder, an MP3 player and a flat-panel television with a built-in DVD player.

The contest is meant to brighten the mood around the store in the final month, assistant manager Mindy Campbell says.

“I remember when it was across the street and doing so well,” customer Paul Roos says. “It’s really sad to see a family-owned business close down.”

The store is also slash-ing prices on nearly every item in stock. Markdowns range from 15 percent to 50 percent.

To further commemorate the store, the Cavanaughs have placed a memory book at the front of the store for shoppers to share memories

and favorite stories or just sign as a token of remem-brance.

Campbell says she’s had older shoppers tell her about when their grandparents brought them in as children, and how they always looked forward to coming in.

“It’s hard for all of us,” Campbell says. “It’s like los-ing some of your family.”

Former store associate Roger Olsen is a living testa-ment to the closeness of the store’s staff — he came out of retirement to help the store in recent months.

Nearby businesses in Auburn are already feeling that the city won’t be the same after Cavanaugh Ace Hardware closes. Robin’s Barber Shop, next door to Cavanaugh Ace Hardware, is experiencing that in more ways than one.

“People sometimes call

me and think I’m going out of business, too,” owner Robin Gilbert says. “I’m definitely not. I wish it wouldn’t have ended this way for (Cavana-ugh), though. I used to go in there a lot. I really hate to see them go on these terms.”

After the store closes, the Cavanaughs plan to donate memorabilia to the White River Museum.

“We want to leave parts of our history in Auburn,” Pat Cavanaugh says. “Other-wise, people will forget about how things used to be.”

Pat Cavanaugh says he and his wife plan to retire once the store closes.

Cavanaugh aCE hardwarE16 S. Division St., Auburn253-833-3345Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday

The first store was founded

by Samuel Cavanaugh in

1887 in Titusville (Kent) territory.

Cavanaugh’s second location was on Main and Gowe streets in Kent in 1901.

In 1936, the store moved a few doors down to a new store made of brick.

Last days of Cavanaugh ace Hardware bittersweet

Cavanaugh Hardware came to

Auburn in 1908.