New owners just take around Baird components retailer

James Gilbert and his wife, Jessica, bought the former White Auto and Home on July 1 and renamed it Gilbert & Son Hardware. Inventorying merchandise remained a task Thursday between helping customers.

BAIRD — In obtaining a historic, smaller-city components retailer, Jessica and James Gilbert also obtained a time capsule.

“We actually appreciate downtown Baird. We wished it to carry on to be a components shop. It is really just truly received a large amount of heritage to it,” Jessica Gilbert explained. 

The Gilberts took possession July 1 of White Vehicle and House at 219 Current market St. from Mike Konczak. The retail outlet had been in the Konczak family given that 1946, she stated, “and is a blast from the previous.”

The White Automobile Keep indicator on the front awning details to the building’s previous life as an automotive sections store franchise. 

Contractors have begun scrapping the cracked exterior paint at White Auto and Home. Jessica and James Gilbert bought the store July 1 and are renovating the downtown Baird store, which is renamed Gilbert & Son Hardware. The K's on the building refer to the store's previous ownership in the Konczak family since 1946.

With new ownership comes a new identify: Gilbert & Son Hardware. The son refers to 10-yr-old Judd. Several hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays via Fridays. 

“We would like to keep variety of the allure of the previous variety of hardware keep and update some of the items that we offer and increase,” Jessica Gilbert reported. “But ideal now, we’re just hoping to dust and determine out what we have bought.”