JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Nestled in the heart of South Pittsburg is a family-owned department store that sells a large range of clothing and accessories for residents to purchase.
Hammers Department Store originally opened in 1941 in Guntersville, Alabama, expanding over time into new communities in Northern Alabama and Eastern Tennessee. The South Pittsburg location opened in the 1950s, expanding in size and number of products within the W.H. Wilson Block building. Today, Hammers in South Pittsburg is owned and operated by Michael Hall, second generation to both the Hall and Hammer families. Hall explained how the store operates mostly by purchasing products directly from major manufactures such as Carhart, and sell their wares at a lower price compared to big name storefronts. Originally, the store functioned through purchases made with other department stores in an era dominated by independently owned businesses before most eventually closed down.
Hammers houses a vast selection of clothing and accessories, ranging from sunglasses and jeans to jackets, skirts, and overalls. Among big name brands sold in the store include Carhart, Dan Post, John Deere, and Justin Boots. Hall explained how over the years, the business sold other products such as toys and motor oil for vehicles as part of keeping up with the hottest selling item on the local market. Currently, the store houses rows of flowers for customers to purchase while browsing the store’s other wares.
“Now we’ve been selling flowers since the last twenty years or so,” said Hall.
Much of the store’s main traffic stems from an over 100 mile radius within the region. The main draw of the facility: bargained prices. Like relatives before him, Michael strives to retain the family-based motto of selling off products at fair prices, all the while adapting to the ever changing landscape of the retail industry. Each year, clothing sold is also switched around depending upon the time of year, such as jackets and hoodies priced during the colder months and t-shirts during the warmer months. Hammers also serves as a major dealer in Carhart products, selling a large selection of pants, overalls, hoodies and jackets all under the Carhart name. Michael noted from time to time, the store will also have purses for sale that customers can purchase, alongside other products such as jewelry and leggings.
Michael explained that many of his customers to this day are left drawn to the charm and style of the facility, leaving those visiting reminiscent of the days when family owned department stores once dominated the market. Despite major retailers such as Walmart and JCPenny, as well as entire shopping malls and online stores providing an array of products to purchase, Michael and the family continue to receive steady business within the community.
“We got a little niche to where we’re not too big, but we make a pretty good living,” said Michael.
Hammer’s Department Store looks ahead into expanding towards Northeastern Tennessee, having recently opened a location near the Great Smoky Mountain region of the Volunteer State, as well as near Oak Ridge. Regardless of where the business goes, the family motto of establishing a go-to bargain outlet will always remain in the hearts of the family members overseeing the business.