Wisnom's | History

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.

Personal service
Most importantly, Wisnom's continues to provide personal service including the following services:

In-home fireplace measurement and installation
Key cutting
Engraving
Knife sharpening
UPS shipping
Free local delivery
Complimentary gift wrap

Wisnom's is proud to have been a pioneer in the City of San Mateo for the last 100 years. As we celebrate the start of our next century, our staff looks forward to serving the community for generations to come.

Check out our 100th Anniversary photos and more interesting anecdotes on our Fun Facts page.