McGahhey Hardware Store, a County Legacy Turns 80!

In 1946, Clifton and Clara McGahhey along with his nephew, Floyd McGahhey and his wife  Roberta McGraw McGahhey, embarked on the dream of entrepreneurship opening what would  eventually become one of the longest continuously run businesses in Arkansas County.  Yesterday, March 15th, this establishment and landmark on the DeWitt Court Square, turned 80.  Defying the odds of rural America and the Arkansas Delta, McGahhey Hardware has stood the  test of time.  

From the moment you set foot on the curb outside the front door, the building housing the  hardware store has history written all over it, literally! This corner, two-story brick building was  originally built sometime in the early 1900’s. Housing at one time a pharmacy, a dental office  and even a hotel. The name of the hotel is still visible in hand-painted letters on the upper front  facing glass windows of the store, reading “Grier Hotel”. The exterior bricks on the front of the  store, as well as the side of the building, still boast hand painted signage and serving as a pre-digital  age advertising of services. Remnants of the past are immediately even more evident as you  walk in the door of the store where historic decorative tile floors greet you along with a  beautifully preserved tile ceiling. Roberta, making some changes to the building in the name of  space, removed a staircase and corner wrapped display window, much to a rambunctious  young Gary and his sister Sharon’s dismay. Today, McGahhey Hardware serves not only as a  current functioning business for the region, but offers a glimpse back in time to a way of life  mostly forgotten.  

Today, Gary McGahhey, serves to keep this amazing business alive bringing the establishment  to the 80 year mark. Gary has long been a fixture in the community as a graduate of DeWitt  High School, an avid Lions Club member for decades, serving on the Arkansas County Fair Board  for numerous years along with being an overall active member of the community. Gary is often  a quick phone call away from someone needing parts, piping, electrical help and more, even on  holidays, Sundays and the rare time he takes a vacation day. From hunting licenses, and  camouflage, to dishes, small kitchen items, seeds, to nails, bolts, and paint, McGahhey  Hardware is a one-stop-shop for many everyday household, business, and farming needs.  

While you will rarely find Gary away from the store, on the rare occasion that he is, you will find  him with one or both of his daughters, Reagan and Courtney, or attending his grandsons Daxton  and Deagan’s sporting events or school events. The legacy of McGahhey Hardware continues to  live on through Gary as he serves to pass his love of service to his community to his daughters