10 Facts About the 124-Year-Old Hardware Legend Closing Its Final Fargo Location
Fargo is saying goodbye to a store that has been part of the community for generations. Scheels Home & Hardware, the company’s last remaining hardware location, is closing after 124 years in business. What started as a small general store eventually grew into one of America’s biggest sporting goods chains, but this final chapter is tied just as much to local memories, longtime employees, and even Fargo’s potato farming history as it is to retail changes.
The Final Hardware Store Closes In 2026
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Scheels Home & Hardware is closing its Fargo location by the end of 2026. This move officially marks the end of the company’s traditional hardware business model. For decades, the 13th Avenue South shop supplied residents with tools, paint, patio furniture, and housewares. Following the announcement in May 2026, long-term customers still have months to visit the final remaining Scheels hardware store in the nation.
The Decision Came Down To Business Focus
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The company is shutting down the location to focus on its main sporting goods operations in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Chief Employee Owner Matt Hanson explained that the company’s decision was based on the evolution of its business. He emphasized that the local staff performed excellently, so one should not assume that poor worker performance caused the store to close.
The Whole Company Started With Potatoes
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Scheels began in 1902 in Sabin, Minnesota, thanks to a successful potato harvest. Frederick A. Scheele used $300 in profits from a 3-acre crop to buy a small hardware and general merchandise shop. Over time, the family dropped the final “e” from their surname. Now, over a century after that original purchase, the company is closing its very last hardware store under the familiar Scheels brand.
Fargo Stayed Close To The Original Story
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Scheels expanded into the area decades ago and eventually established its corporate headquarters there. This Home & Hardware location kept the brand’s old-school retail roots alive long after the company’s focus shifted to massive sporting goods stores. For many locals, it was a reminder of the kind of practical inventory Scheels sold before athletic gear took over the shelves.
This Was A Bigger Store Than The Name Suggests
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Calling the Fargo location a simple hardware store is a major understatement. Scheels Home & Hardware featured a sprawling selection of apparel, home décor, furniture, and grilling gear, alongside custom design and paint services. Visitors could browse patio sets, eat lunch at the on-site café, and grab tools for a home project all in one trip. This diverse lineup transformed routine errands into a unique shopping experience.
Sporting Goods Became The Main Event
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Scheels gradually moved away from its hardware roots as sporting goods became the primary business. The brand currently has 34 locations across 16 states in the United States with a team of over 13,000 employees. When a business expands so heavily into a new category, maintaining an old hardware division gets complicated. The Fargo store held deep sentimental value, but nostalgia rarely dictates long-term retail strategy.
Workers May Move Into Other Scheels Jobs
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Scheels plans to move workers from the closing Home & Hardware store into open positions nearby or within the broader company. This commitment matters since the business is employee-owned. While the shutdown remains difficult news, the official strategy offers staff a real chance to stay on board. Company leadership also commended the Home & Hardware staff, which kept the announcement centered on future plans rather than mistakes.
The Company Still Plans New Stores
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New sporting goods locations will open in Cedar Park, Texas, in 2026, followed by Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, in 2027. Future expansions will land in Blaine, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City by 2028. This move highlights a deliberate corporate shift. The closure of this last remaining hardware shop comes as the brand continues investing in large sporting goods locations. Instead of shrinking, the company is simply choosing to fund its most profitable division.
Home Depot Adds Useful Context
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A Home Depot operates just two miles from Scheels Home & Hardware in Fargo. Though Scheels did not cite that rival as the reason for the closure, the nearby superstore highlights a crowded market, making comparison inevitable. Data from Numerator shows Home Depot held an average market share of 28 percent across key home-improvement categories in 2025. Lowe’s followed behind, capturing an average share of 17 percent over the same period.
Other Longtime Hardware Stores Have Also Closed
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Scheels follows a trend of shutdowns affecting veteran hardware businesses. For instance, Kreuger’s True Value in Neenah, Wisconsin, locked its doors when the owners retired without finding a buyer. Carnation Ace Hardware in Washington also shut down in 2025 after 56 years of family operation. While Scheels closed for its own specific reasons, the outcome remains the same: another classic brand meeting a major turning point.