Laurel Hardware
Type of Business: Hardware Store
Years of Operation: 1946-1976
Location: 316 Richland Ave W (currently Prime Steakhouse)
Family: Laurel (Lazar)
Lazar Laurel (1892-1976) was a veteran of WWI who stayed in France after the War, coming to America as the Nazi’s rose to power. He came to Aiken in 1942 and married Dora Surasky (1904-1980), the daughter of HC Surasky in 1943. He initially opened a hardware store & repair shop in the Alley. He moved the business to Richland Ave around 1946, next door to a hardware store run by his friend and competitor Nathan Franzblau. The business and property was sold to Harold Pridgen after Lazar's death in 1976 and the business continued to operate as Laurel-Pridgen Hardware.
Laurel Hardware & Franzblau Hardware (side by side), circa 1960s
Photo Courtesy of Allen Riddick
Aiken Rambler, 2-10-1983
Aiken Standard & Review, 1-5-1949
Richland Avenue West seen from Laurens St showing Laurel Hardware & Franzblau Hardware, circa 1950; Adath yeshurun archives (courtesy of Doris Baumgarten)