History | Fun Facts | 100th Anniversary

Wisnom's — Making History Since 1905

The Wisnom family history reads like a chapter out of an Americana novel. Great-grandfather Robert Wisnom, a penniless, 21-year-old Irish carpenter with a grammar school education, arrived in the United States in 1868. Back then, San Mateo's population numbered at about 500 people and its business district consisted of a railroad station, a few stores and a saloon. For someone who was willing to work hard and strike out on his own, the stage was set for building the American Dream.

Over the next several decades, Wisnom was involved in the construction of several landmark San Mateo buildings including the Levy Brothers Store on B Street, the St. Matthew Hotel on Second Avenue, and a complete block of commercial buildings bounded by Baldwin Avenue, B Street, First Avenue and Ellsworth. He also started several businesses, bought property, and helped organize San Mateo's first bank.

Wisnom's is born

In 1905, two of Wisnom's eight children, Robert James and younger brother William, partnered with Robert Bonner to open Wisnom-Bonner Hardware on the corner of Second Avenue and Ellsworth. Twenty years later, the brothers dissolved their partnership with Bonner and changed the store's name to Wisnom Hardware. In 1958, the store was moved to a B Street location, remaining there until 1982 when it was moved to its present site on the corner of First Avenue and South Delaware Street. Robert J.'s two sons, Robert F. and John D. both eventually went into business with their father and continued to run Wisnom's.

Legend and lore

The younger brother, John D. Wisnom had three children, Susan ("Suzi"), Jonathan and Martha ("Mimi") Wisnom. Today Suzi, together her husband, Dick Nelson, is the third generation to own and operate the store. Almost every Wisnom child worked at the store at one time or another and Suzi was no exception. She tells stories about how, as a child, she spent hours counting candles or stocking dishes. Just about every Wisnom kid remembers how "Uncle Bob" initiated them into the business by sending them to Darcy's Sporting Goods to find a left-handed broom or to Levy Brothers Department Store for a paper stretcher, To no one's surprise, they are still looking!

Few people know that dynamite, which was used for road construction in the county, was supplied by Wisnom's. It was stored under the sidewalk on Ellsworth near Second Avenue. The pick-up and delivery trucks purposely arrived early in the morning to avoid activity in the street. Family legend has it that one day the store closed its doors to customers because a box of blasting caps was accidentally knocked off a shelf. Carefully, the caps were picked up, painstakingly counted, and gingerly replaced in their box to make sure the Ellsworth sidewalk above avoided an explosive installment of a large, unplanned hole.

Merchandise over the years

Wisnom's has always sold a full line of hardware and builder's supplies. When the store first began, the shelves were stocked with hammers and nails, nuts and bolts, horseshoe nails and barbed wire. Then, during the 1920s, Wisnom's acquired a Dodge dealership and the employees sold cars and trucks, and even serviced them. In the back of the store was a barn where ladders, nail kegs, kerosene, thinners and other supplies were kept. During prohibition, it was suspected that some of these kegs may also have held other kinds of "interesting" libations.

During World War II, it was difficult to obtain the stoves and refrigerators Wisnom's sold before the war. To replace them, Wisnom's added a record department and sold 78 rpm records. A listening booth was installed which often hummed with lyrics such as "Kiss me once and kiss me twice and kiss me once again…"

Some things never change
Over the years, the store's merchandise has expanded to include housewares, cookware, garden tools, pet supplies, giftware, and a fireplace shop. There is still a full supply of builder's hardware. But the dynamite is gone and the most "explosive" items in the store now are the barbeques.

What has remained constant is the Wisnom business philosophy. Grandfather Robert Wisnom set out to create a friendly general merchandise store where people could browse, visit, discover what's new and find the special tools or supplies they need. True to his vision, Wisnom's still provides a friendly, personal shopping environment where you can find quality goods at a fair price in an atmosphere of respect and welcoming.

Fun Facts

• Bronze discs are located in the floors of both the old B Street store and in the present First Watch restaurant at 201 Second Avenue, the site of the first Wisnom store. The discs read "Wisnom Hardware Company" and were used by fire fighters to access the basement in case of fire.
• Just for "posterity"—but mostly because it's fun—a similar disc has been placed at the First Avenue entrance of the present store location.
• Since the 1870s, the Wisnom family continues to gather together for a traditional family Thanksgiving dinner. But the family has grown so numerous that now the event is held in a private dining room at a San Mateo location.
• The St. Matthew Hotel on Second Avenue used to be the Wisnom Hotel. There is a plaque on the building from the City of San Mateo which commemorates this historic site. Also, if you look up at the very top of the structure you can still see "Wisnom Hotel" in faint lettering across the top.
• Patriarch Robert Wisnom owned a plot of land bordered by Poplar, Bellevue and El Camino which was later subdivided into 43 lots. He deeded a street right down the middle of this subdivision to the city of San Mateo and named it Wisnom Avenue.
• On the north wall of the plaza in front of the Century movie theater off B Street is a mural which was repainted during the San Mateo Centennial. Robert Wisnom is one of the figures pictured here because he was a key personality who helped shape the city.
• Robert Wisnom built many of the houses that still exist on Delaware Street. A Wisnom customer was remodelling his home and brought a board into the store—it had been signed by the "artist" — Robert Wisnom.
• Across the top of the building on 1st and B Street is a sign that reads: "Wisnom Building." It will be the home of the new restaurant, the B Street Rotisserie.
• Robert James Wisnom was a founding member of the San Mateo Rotary Club.

100th Anniversary

Blast to the past at Wisnom's. Wisnom's owners, Suzi Wisnom Nelson and Dick Nelson, enjoy a nostalgic moment of a bygone era as they celebrate 100 years of business in San Mateo with a week of special in-store events November 7-12.
Suzi Wisnom Nelson, owner of Wisnom's in San Mateo, takes a spin back to 1905 to commemorate the store's 100th anniversary with a week of special in-store events November 7-12.
1905-2005. Wisnom's owners, Suzi Wisnom Nelson and Dick Nelson, get set to celebrate 100 years of business in San Mateo with a week of special in-store events November 7-12.
Wisnom's owners, Suzi Wisnom Nelson and Dick Nelson, enjoy a nostalgic moment of a bygone era as they celebrate 100 years of business in San Mateo with a week of special in-store events November 7-12.
Blast to the past at Wisnom's. Suzi Wisnom Nelson and Dick Nelson, owners of Wisnom's in San Mateo, turn back the clock to celebrate 100 years in business during a week-long celebration November 7-12.	Wisnom's owner, Suzi Wisnom Nelson and co-store manager, Allison Wisnom, have a lot to smile about as they get ready to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Wisnom's with a week of special events November 7-12.
The staff of Wisnom Hardware, one of San Mateo's oldest commercial institutions, is set to celebrate the store's centennial with a week of special events November 7-12.	Wisnom's management team has a week of special events planned November 7-12 to celebrate the store's centennial. (Left to right) store managers Jeff Templin and Allison Wisnom; store owners Suzi WisnomNelson and Dick Nelson.
Wisnom's, which celebrates its centennial November 7-12, offers a full line of hardware and builder's supplies. Trained hardware professionals, (left to right) Bob, Joe and Warren, offer customers personal service and solutions.	Wisnom's, which celebrates its centennial November 7-12, offers unique houseware and giftware from all over the world. (Left to right) Wisnom employees Becky, Connie, Dee, Kristen, Sallie and Cindy offer customers personal attention and services such as complimentary gift wrap and home delivery.
Wisnom's, which celebrates its centennial November 7-12, offers a full line of hardware and builder's supplies. Trained hardware professionals, (left to right) Jay, Diane, John and Shea, offer customers personal service and solutions.	Wisnom's offers customers in-home fireplace measurement and installation. Fireplace specialists (left to right) Jaime, Dan and Mike visit customer's homes to ensure a perfect fit.
Wisnom's accountants, Jane Stapp and Lin Woodurff count 100 years of business as they get ready to celebrate the store's centennial November 7-12.	Wisnom's store managers, Allison Wisnom and Jeff Templin, have a lot to smile about as they get ready to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Wisnom's with a week of special events November 7-12.
Wisnom's owner, Suzi Wisnom Nelson, shows off a Portmerion teapot, just one of the beautiful houseware items Wisnom's carries.	Wisnom's owner, Dick Nelson, helps customer Gail Farmer find exactly what she needs in Wisnom's hardware department. Wisnom's can also special order specific items as needed.
Wisnom's store managers, Allison Wisnom and Jeff Templin, wait on a customer. The staff of Wisnom Hardware, one of San Mateo's oldest commercial institutions, is set to celebrate the store's centennial with a week of special events November 7-12.	Wisnom's, which celebrates its centennial November 7-12, features a wide selection of barbecues and garden supplies. Trained retail professionals, (left to right) Dan, Jamie and Mike, offer customers personal service and answers to their gardening needs.
Wisnom's	Wisnom's
Wisnom's

Photos by Suki Hill
Not pictured: Bruce Ryner, Hardware, Chris Vappie and Cory Radov, Warehouse