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The Last Hardware Store

the story of Nichols Hardware, a documentary film by The Lincoln Studios

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L to R: Drew Babb, Peter Buck and Sarah Huntington (Photo by Rebekah Murray)

Filming the documentary is the recently formed collaborative The Lincoln Studios in the village of Lincoln, Virginia. Noted portrait photographer Sarah Huntington is executive producer. Peter Buck, a veteran videographer is directing and principal cameraman and Drew Babb is the writer and editor.

"I've been photographing the Nichols staff for over the last 20 years," said Huntington. "But what makes Nichols unique is not just the way it looks, but the way it moves. There's a kind of ballet here, with a team of sales people gliding their customers in and out of basements and attics and warehouses to find just the right thing they came in for. We're here to capture this movement, this action, for all time."

Purcellville's Nichols Hardware

to Be Star of a New Documentary Film

Nichols Hardware, a mercantile establishment in the same family's hands despite three devastating fires and the passage of more than eight decades, is the subject of a film just starting shooting in July in Western Loudoun County.

Tentatively called "The Last Hardware Store," the documentary will feature footage of the store's daily operations, interviews with owners and staff (average tenure in the 30 year range), memories of long-time customers and historical footage and photographs.

Nichols Hardware opened its doors as the E.E. Nichols & Company in 1915. After last year's death of Ed Nichols, the store is now owned and managed by Ed's brother Ken Nichols and his son Ted Nichols.

Nichols' Customers Recollections Welcomed

Customers with recollections, anecdotes and old photos of Nichols are encouraged to contact the Lincoln Studios for possible inclusion in the documentary. Go to the Contact Us page for more information.