Joseph B. Hostetter retired from a successful farming career in Rapho Township and purchased Gabe Moyer’s Hardware Store (on W. Donegal St. in Mount Joy) in 1927. The business, which has been family owned and operated from the beginning, has undergone several changes since it began. In 1929, it acquired Brown Brothers Hardware at 35 West Main St. in Mount Joy. During the 1940s, the store added General Electric (GE) and Maytag appliances. In the 1950s, the business began selling GE televisions. The store incorporated as JB Hostetter and Sons Inc. in 1963. Later that summer, Joseph passed away.
The business continued to branch out, joining the 3000 member True Value Hardware Wholesale Cooperative in 1970. The co-op currently has over 5000 members. Hostetter Hardware Inc. formed two years later and acquired H S Newcomer and Sons, a hardware store located at 93 East Main St. Arthur Hostetter and his wife Clara, along with their sons Jack and Kent, owned and operated this new location. The most recent location change came in 1982, when Arthur purchased a 5 acre plot of land at the store’s current location, 1225 West Main St. Construction on the 35,000 square-foot building began in 1983, with the two stores merging and officially opening to the public on July 5, 1984. In 1994, another expansion occurred with the addition of more than 21,000 square feet of warehouse space and two greenhouses. Two years later in 1996, the business added the rental department which currently offers a wide assortment of home and garden products, contractor equipment, and party and special event items for rent. Clara, who had served as corporate secretary and bookkeeper for 25 years, passed away in 1988. Arthur passed away in 2000. At that time, ownership passed to Jack, who is currently president, and Kent, who is vice president. In 2001, the business joined ADC (Appliance Dealer Cooperative), which is part of NECO, the largest independent appliance buying group in the north eastern United States.
Currently, J B Hostetter and Sons features a 64,000 square feet location and employs a staff of close to 70 people. Many of their employees are lifelong residents of the Mount Joy community. We are a True Value hardware store that offers major appliances, tools and hardware, plumbing and electrical supplies, housewares, lawn & garden equipment, and more. We offer a True Value paint shop, True Value Rentals, and service and parts departments. Many of our customers appreciate the variety of products, free delivery, and service after the sale when deciding where to make purchases of major appliances and lawn and garden equipment. We have service departments to back up almost everything we sell. We’ve been through a lot of changes over the years, but one thing that our customers can count on is that we will be here to provide all the products and services they need for their homes and lawns.
