Nelson’s Hardware, an iconic downtown Whitefish business for more than 70 years, is embarking on its next chapter — a potential relocation to U.S. 93 South and an ownership transfer to the next generation of the Nelson family.

Marilyn Nelson, who owns the store with her husband Rick, said one of the compelling reasons they’re looking at property on the highway is because they lost their lease on a warehouse behind their store on Central Avenue.

“We lost our lease last year and it’s been month to month since then,” she said. “We can’t run our business without that warehouse. We’re one of 10 people who want to buy that building, and many [of the prospective buyers] have deeper pockets than we do.”

Nelson said they have a piece of property under contract where they would like to build a new hardware store.

“These things take so much time to put together,” she said. “We’re working to ascertain the feasibility, costing the project. If we’re able to close on the land and we can afford it, we will be moving.”

Nelson said the property under consideration is in the WB2, or secondary business zone where a hardware store would have a right of use.

“For our business, we’re zoned correctly,” she said. “We’ll be removing an urban blight.”

Nelson’s would use all local contractors for the building project, she added.

Nelson was recently appointed to the Highway 93 South Corridor Steering Committee that will work through the planning process with city staff to create a plan that would serve to guide future development along the corridor.

The decision to relocate from downtown to U.S. 93 was a difficult one, Nelson stressed, but the bottom line is sustainability for the store into the future — the next 30 to 50 years.

“We’re trying to be proactive in ensuring a future for our business,” she said.

A market study conducted by Nelson’s last spring indicated customers want more product selection and better parking.

Another big piece part of the transition is a transfer of ownership to the third generation of the Nelson family. Nelson said she and Rick will still be involved for the next five to 10 years.

Rick’s parents, Wilfred and Ruth Nelson, moved to Whitefish in 1947 and purchased Marshall Wells Hardware. The family lived in the apartment above the store while Rick and his siblings were growing up. His brother, the late Don Nelson, was a partner in the hardware business from the mid-1970s until he retired in 2005.

When Wilfred bought the store there were six similar stores in downtown Whitefish that sold hardware and building supplies, Nelson pointed out.

“We’ve outlived all of them,” she said. “In hard times our partner was the bank who could have shut us down and didn’t … we are a small business who through thick and thin has survived.”

A loyal customer base has kept Nelson’s in business for more than 70 decades.

“We love our customers,” she said. “They will go out of their way to shop here. They’ll drive around the block three times [to find a parking spot]. They kept us downtown.”

Nelson said she realizes many will lament the relocation, but she hopes their customers will support the store in a new location. Nelson’s will continue to donate to all kinds of community projects.

“To some people, any change is bad. I don’t look at it like that,” she continued.

Nelson said she has seen Whitefish attract all kinds of young, vibrant and intelligent people who are enriching the community in myriad ways.

Owning their own building also has enabled the Nelsons to stay in the downtown corridor. They’ve had offers on their building, but intend to retain ownership so they have a say in what kind of retail business would occupy the space.

Nelson’s is marking its 70th anniversary with a big store celebration similar to the event the store held in 2008 for its 60th year.

Features Editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.