In the heart of Union, a family legacy has closed its doors.
Union Supply, a staple of the community for more than seven decades, has closed as its current owner, Casey Shoemaker, embarks on a new journey that prioritizes family and opens the door to a new career. The announcement marks the end of a chapter that began not with Shoemaker, but with his grandfather, Alvis Smith, who worked in the store when it was still a general store. After returning home from World War II, Smith bought the building from Hugh Kelly.
“My grandfather worked here until he was 87,” Shoemaker said. “This has been in our family for generations. He and my grandmother, Ruby, laid the foundation, and it’s been an honor to continue that.”
Shoemaker, 35, has owned and operated Union Supply for the past 15 years. Now, with two young daughters and a wife at home, he’s choosing to step away from the hardware business to take on a new role as an IT security analyst at Citizens Bank of Philadelphia.
“I have a degree in microcomputer technology,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to run this store, and this new opportunity opens a lot of doors for me and allows me to spend more time with my family. That’s what really matters right now.”
The decision to close Union Supply was not an easy one. For Shoemaker, the store has always been more than a business. It has been a place of connection, service and legacy.
“There were a lot of variables, but ultimately it came down to my family,” he said. “This store was my great-grandfather’s legacy. I’m grateful to have been part of it, to have worked here and learned so much. But now, it’s time to build something of my own.”
The fate of the building and its inventory is still to be determined. Shoemaker said there are several interested parties, some of whom want to continue operating a hardware business, while others have different plans for the space.
“I don’t want to see it sit vacant,” he said. “Whatever it becomes, I just want it to be something that benefits the town, something the community can be proud of.”
