Family business ends 79-year run in Auburn

AUBURN – Even when the profits dwindled, Linda Gross held on to the business her grandfather started when light bulbs sold for $1 a dozen and a pair of rawhide work gloves cost a quarter.

The New Auburn store her family had run since 1927, Pontbriand’s Hardware, meant too much to close.

“We talked about it, but we couldn’t do it,” she said. Holding her hand over her heart, she said, “It mattered here.”

Then, last December, her brother and business partner, Thomas Pontbriand, died. The store became too much.

Gross couldn’t give her customers all the personal attention expected and fight to keep costs down, the way they needed to be with big-box hardware stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s located just a few miles away.

The ends no longer met.

So, on Friday, Sept. 1, she plans to close.

“It’s going to be a hard day, when we actually close the doors,” she said, standing behind the counter where she has worked her whole adult life.

It will be a blow to the family.

Linda’s grandparents, Arthur and Ida Pontbriand, started the business as a gas station, pumping fuel into Plymouths and Fords at the same 63 Mill St. address.

Before long, the gas station begun by Arthur Pontbriand grew into a hardware store. Ida contracted with the post office to sell stamps and mail packages for the busy neighborhood.

Pontbriand’s sold sporting goods, skis and appliances. Eventually, the appliance business broke away and Linda’s dad, Gerald, ran the hardware store.

“I can still see my father walking through the aisles,” said Mark Pontbriand, Linda’s brother. As little kids, they’d ride their bikes in these aisles. By the time they were 12, they were stocking shelves. Soon after that, they were running the register.

Linda was 21 when she and Thomas took over.

But when Home Depot opened in 1999, business fell immediately.

“Personal service held us together for quite a while,” Linda said. “That’s why we thrived for so many years.”

Last Friday, the shop was filled with people lamenting the coming closure. They were also looking for bargains. Everything in the store was sold at half price.

“I’m going to miss this place,” said Marcel Robert, a longtime customer from Lewiston. “I hate to see a local store close.”

Barbara Randall, a customer for decades, hugged Linda and wished her luck.

Randall said she stepped into Home Depot only once.

“I was not impressed,” said the retired English teacher. “You get turned off by paint piled to the ceiling.”

Mark Pontbriand, who became an accountant, dropped by the store Friday to lend his sister a hand. The emptying shelves chilled him.

“You know they’re not going to be filled up again,” he said.

Linda, 49, said the change will do her good.

After she relaxes a bit, she plans to go back to work. She doesn’t know what it’ll be, though it will be something that keeps her off her feet all day.

Limping slightly as she walked behind the counter, Linda sighed.

“I’m ready for something new,” she said.

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