Every town has that one store. The place you run to when the sink won’t stop leaking, or when your kid’s science project needs last-minute glue. In Neenah, Wisconsin, that place has been around longer than light bulbs. You won’t find mobile apps or point systems. But you’ll find real people who remember your name and offer advice that actually works.
But now, after 159 years, that store is shutting down. And for the people who live here, it feels like losing a friend.
A Legacy Forged in Time
We are talking about a store that has a strong legacy, one that had roots, deep ones. It opened just after the Civil War, stayed open through world wars and recessions, and never missed a beat. Parents brought their kids, and those kids grew up and brought theirs. It was where advice came free, even if you only needed one screw. This store stood still, unmoved in a world that constantly moves. Until now, anyway.
The Giants of Home Improvement
Home improvement used to mean a trip down the street, maybe some free advice along with the nails. Now these modern stores are rewriting the rules. Today, home improvement is more likely to mean navigating towering aisles, scanning your own items, and competing with nationwide pricing.
Just earlier this year, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Amazon controlled more than 60% of the market. That shift changed how Americans shop and also made it harder for small, family-run stores to survive. And in one Midwestern town, a place that once beat the odds, finally couldn’t anymore.
Struggles in the Housing Market
Home improvement spending doesn’t exist in a bubble. With home sales down 2.7% in June 2025 and mortgage rates still stubbornly high, fewer people are buying, let alone remodeling. When the housing market stalls, so do the paint cans, nails, screws, and power tools. For small hardware stores, every slow month matters. When there’s only one local store to count on, numbers like these hit differently. They can decide whether the lights stay on or the doors close for good. This over a century-old store, in particular, felt the squeeze harder than most.
The Heartbreaking Decision
The name behind this long-standing story? Krueger’s True Value in Neenah, Wisconsin. After serving the community for 159 years, it’s preparing to close its doors for the last time.
Run by the same family since 1866, the store survived wars, recessions, and the rise of online everything. But this summer, the fifth-generation owners made a tough call. They’re retiring. With no buyer in sight, they began a full liquidation sale on July 22, 2025. The closure isn’t making national news, but for the people who live here, it feels like losing something far bigger than just a place to shop. They’re practically saying goodbye to a piece of themselves.
A Store Like No Other
Krueger’s wasn’t just where you bought lightbulbs. It was where you got advice, found spare keys, and caught up on neighborhood news. It hosted community events, lent out tools, and somehow always had the right size screw. Customers trusted it. A longtime customer put it simply: “It wasn’t just a store. It’s where we solved problems together.” For Neenah, the closure marks the end of a trusted space that served both practical needs and personal connections.
The True Value Connection
Krueger’s was part of the True Value cooperative, a network of thousands of independently owned hardware stores. In October 2024, the parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and sold its assets to Do it Best Corp. While that bankruptcy didn’t directly cause Krueger’s closure, it underscored how shaky the ground has become, even for long-established names. Even with generations of loyalty behind it, this kind of small business isn’t built to withstand the pressures reshaping today’s retail landscape.
The Ripple Effect
When Krueger’s shuts its doors, it won’t just leave a vacancy downtown. It leaves behind fewer options, fewer familiar faces, and a gap in the community fabric. For Neenah, the loss hits hard. It’s part of a larger trend, with 94 LL Flooring locations closing last year and more small retailers feeling the pressure nationwide. When a longtime store shuts down, what’s lost goes beyond inventory. Communities lose reliable guidance and a sense of connection.
Can Small Retail Survive?
Independent hardware stores still dot the country, but each year their numbers shrink. Some, like Ace Hardware locations, are holding strong with community backing and smart adaptation. Still, the odds are tough. When massive chains set the prices and control the supply chain, it’s hard for the little guy to keep up. Krueger’s lasted longer than anyone expected, but even it couldn’t outrun the shift. The question now is whether anything like it can still survive.
A Farewell to a Legend
Krueger’s True Value will stay open for a few more months as part of its final liquidation sale. Locals are stopping by to purchase a few more tools, say a teary goodbye, swap a few more stories and thank the owners for an incredible 159-year run. The sale may be happening, but for many, it feels more like a sendoff. As more local shops face uncertain futures, it’s a good time to ask: what would your town miss if it quietly disappeared?