If you are walking the Los Gatos Creek trail where it cross San Carlos Avenue it is worth checking out all the action happening at Orchards Supply Hardware.
Orchard Supply Farmers Co-Op was started in 1931 as a way for fruit orchard owners to pool their money and save on the equipment and supplies needed to take care of the many orchards in the area. It quickly grew and has become the goto hardware store for our neighborhood.
OSH has had a colorful history and has changed from a co-op, to being owned by Sears, IPO spun off, bankrupt and is now currently owned by Lowes, which has decided to keep it separate and focused on friendly customer service.
This part of our neighborhood is undergoing a huge transformation. The oldest of OSH's 91 stores the 1946 store is being replaced with a brand new store opening in 2014 right next door.
Orchard Supply Farmers Co-Op was started in 1931 as a way for fruit orchard owners to pool their money and save on the equipment and supplies needed to take care of the many orchards in the area. It quickly grew and has become the goto hardware store for our neighborhood.
OSH has had a colorful history and has changed from a co-op, to being owned by Sears, IPO spun off, bankrupt and is now currently owned by Lowes, which has decided to keep it separate and focused on friendly customer service.
This part of our neighborhood is undergoing a huge transformation. The oldest of OSH's 91 stores the 1946 store is being replaced with a brand new store opening in 2014 right next door.
The old house on the property got the wrecking ball, but the old green OSH rail car used for rail car deliveries was saved and moved to San Jose History Park!
Rumor has it that the old store will be razed to make way for a new strip mall with the likes of Starbucks, Chipotle, Subway stores that can be found at other Lowes centers. I would love to see the new retail take advantage of the Los Gatos Creek view and trail, but given the large homeless population in the area I can see another great walkable area getting fenced off again for a later generation to embrace.
For history buffs, this location along the river and railroad tracks next to the canneries was where baseball was played in San Jose from 1908-1930. The area was originally Sodality Park, created by Myles P. O'Connor (O'Connor Hospital) and the men's Sodality of St Joseph's church (downtown cathedral) and attracted exhibition games featuring legendary players Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb and Lefty O'Doul.