On a recent rainy afternoon along Main Street in Mars, the parking spots outside Pfeifer Hardware told a story before you ever stepped inside.
A Mercedes pulled in. A Lexus sat parked along the curb. Moments later, a red Ford F-250 diesel rumbled into a space nearby, followed by a steady flow of contractor trucks.
Different vehicles. Different lives. Same destination.
Inside, that’s exactly how owner Ed Pfeifer wants it.
“It doesn’t matter what your trade or profession is,” Pfeifer said. “When you come in here, everybody’s the same.”
That philosophy—simple, consistent, and deeply personal—has carried Pfeifer Hardware through 40 years of family ownership and helped make it one of the most enduring businesses in the Mars community.
A Family Business, Built Over Generations
The store’s roots go back even further than the Pfeifer name.
The building itself, known as the Ziegler Building, dates to 1897 and has housed some version of a hardware or general store for more than a century.
Ed’s parents purchased the business in 1986. Fifteen years later, Ed and his wife, Stacey, took it over, continuing a legacy that has now spanned generations.
“My dad’s message was simple,” Pfeifer said. “You have to work hard—and the customer is king.”
While Ed may be the face of Pfeifer Hardware, he’s quick to point out the business has never been a one-person operation.
His wife, Stacey, works alongside him every day. She manages the books, helps customers, and oversees the technical aspects of the store.
“I can’t do it alone, and I don’t want to do it alone,” Pfeifer said. “It’s both of us or none.”
That partnership has been central to the store’s success—and reflects a deeper truth about Pfeifer Hardware: it runs on people, not just products.
That partnership extends beyond family.
It includes employees like fifteen-year veteran store manager Steve Luntz—described by Pfeifer as “infinitely talented”—and Kaden Ostapchenko… (pictured above), a Mars Area High School senior who has spent the past three years working in the store—part of a team that ranges from seasoned staff to younger workers learning the business.
More Than a Store—A Place for Connection
Step inside Pfeifer Hardware, and it quickly becomes clear this isn’t just a place to buy supplies.
It’s a place where customers come in not just to buy what they need, but to ask questions and get advice. Contractors strike up conversations in line that often turn into future jobs, while neighbors pause to catch up in between aisles. Over time—sometimes over decades—those everyday interactions grow into lasting relationships.
“There are customers my dad started relationships with who still come in today,” Pfeifer said. “They might not buy what they used to, but we’re still their hardware store.”
In a world where many transactions have moved online, Pfeifer Hardware remains something increasingly rare: a place where people still interact face-to-face.
More Than Local—A Destination for Customers
While Pfeifer Hardware is rooted in Mars, its reach extends far beyond Main Street. Customers travel from Eastern Ohio, Erie, and across Western Pennsylvania for products they know they can’t easily find elsewhere.
For some, the store isn’t just convenient—it’s a “destination” noted Pfeifer.
Behind the scenes, that reputation is built on scale. Pfeifer maintains multiple warehouses to support the store’s inventory, allowing the business to stock a depth and variety of product.
That depth shows up in both expected and unexpected ways. The store carries liquid pool chlorine from a local manufacturer, The Austin Company, a product that draws repeat customers from outside the immediate area. It also handles everyday needs at a remarkable volume—cutting more than 3,000 keys each year—while continuing to offer locally sourced items like honey alongside its core hardware inventory.
“Where else can you buy worms, mushrooms and carpet in the same store?” Pfeifer said with a laugh.
Adapting Without Losing What Matters
Over the years, the business has evolved.
Inventory has expanded to meet modern expectations. Technology has improved efficiency. Product lines have shifted with demand—especially in lawn and garden, which has seen significant growth.
But one thing hasn’t changed:
“No one will work harder for the customer than us,” Pfeifer said.
That mindset helped the store push through one of its toughest periods during the COVID-19 pandemic, when staffing shortages left just a handful of people running the entire operation—often working long hours to keep up with demand.
An Anchor on Main Street
Pfeifer sees the store as part of the town’s foundation.
“I’d like to think we’re an anchor,” he said.
And in many ways, that’s exactly what it is.
Not because of its size.
Not because of its inventory.
But because of what happens inside its walls every day.
Built on Relationships—Then and Now
At its core, Pfeifer Hardware isn’t asking customers to “buy local” out of obligation.
It’s offering something else.
“Customers shouldn’t come here for us,” Pfeifer said. “They should come here because it benefits them—and we’ll take responsibility for delivering for them.”
It’s a subtle distinction—but one that has defined the business for four decades.
And judging by the mix of cars in the parking lot—and the people walking through the door—it’s a model that continues to work.
