History of Mt. Pleasant Hardware
According to public records, Mt. Pleasant Hardware, Inc. (MTPHardware.com) has been listed as an established business in the City of Providence since 1923. However, the business likely was operating since 1921 before being publicly recorded. Regardless of its exact origination date, the iconic Providence business has been serving the greater Providence area and beyond for more than 100 years!
The company has always had a presence in the Mount Pleasant section of the capitol city since its beginnings. Its founder, Samuel Elman, ran the company from its original location at 1097 Chalkstone Avenue. The business also maintained a warehouse on nearby Academy Avenue. Upon Sam’s death, his son and daughter inherited the business.
In 1967 tragedy struck and a fire destroyed the original location and took the life of a local firefighter. The sibling-owners decided to make some changes and run two separate locations under the Mt. Pleasant Hardware moniker. Sam’s son, Alfred, ran the “main” store located on Park Ave in Cranston. His daughter Barbara and her husband, Paul Gillson converted the warehouse at 249 Academy Avenue in Providence into a satellite location. In the early 1980s, Alfred retired and sold the Cranston store to an outside interest.
The Gillsons continued to own and operate Mt. Pleasant Hardware on Academy Ave in Providence well into the 1990s before retiring and selling the business to their son who had grown up running up and down its aisles. Current owner, Marc Gillson, (URI ’79) runs the business with his son who is proud to carry the company into its fourth-generation of proprietorship.
The company and its owners have always invested in the local community. Marc sat on the board of the Smith Hill Community Development Corp. for many years, actively contributes to neighborhood community centers, and supports local students by providing workplace internships.
Over the past decade, the company built a significant window repair operation and boasts the largest selection of window repair parts in the state. MPH is a principal dealer for the leading wholesale distributor of quality window and door replacement hardware in the nation. As a member of the Do It Best buying group, Mt. Pleasant Hardware is partnered with the only US-based, member-owned comprehensive and fully integrated hardware, lumber, and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry.
In addition to the products and services offered by traditional hardware stores including shade and glass-cutting, screen repair, paint mixing, pipe threading, electrical, plumbing, and cleaning sundries, the company has been a leading U-Haul dealer for over 25 years.
HBSDealer (Hardware & Building Supply Dealer) named Mt. Pleasant Hardware a member of the 2023 class of STIHL Hardware ALL STARS for “customer focus, community centricity and a commitment to the traditions of the hardware and building supply industry.”
Mt. Pleasant Hardware proudly serves a vibrant community of immigrants as well as surrounding colleges and universities, hospitals, small businesses, and other essential institutions. We look forward to many more years cooperating in this historic, diverse, working-class community. Please support small business!