Sprowls City Appliance to close after 135 years
End of an era
Sprowls City Appliance has announced that the well-loved Washington establishment was closing its doors for good at noon on Saturday, Oct. 31, after 135 years of service to Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Fourth-generation owner Nick Sprowls’ great grandfather, George B. Sprowls, opened his hardware and general merchandise store in Claysville in 1891 after leaving his previous career as a country schoolteacher, according to the store’s website. He eventually grew the business into selling automobiles.
The family acquired the former Smith’s Appliance store in Washington in 1990, before relocating to its current location on West Chestnut Street in 1996.
Sprowls said that although business has been great in recent years, now is the right time to step away.
“I’m just tired and I’m worn out,” Sprowls, 71, said.
Sprowls said he considered pursuing a succession plan to keep the business in the family after his retirement, but that plan, unfortunately, “blew up in my face.”
“I’m incredibly grateful for all the support we had over the years,” he said, “the outpouring of support over the past month has been overwhelming, and we’ve always had the best customers. They’ve given me a great career, but when it’s over, it’s over.”