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In 1880 W.G.G. Lowry and Robert Lowry built a tobacco warehouse on this lot. Part of the front building was sectioned off in 1885 as a hardware store, operated in 1890 by L.J. Ritchie and Salmon M. Withers. Born in Rich Valleey in 1843, Withers served as County Treasurer and was also editor of the Abingdon-Virginian. After his death in 1899, his wife, Lillias, continued the hardware business. In August of 1914 the store was destroyed by fire. By November a new building was constructed and occupied by Withers Hardware and a jewelry store. The site housed a hardware store until 1983 when Barbara and Andy Hargroves acquired the property and turned it into a restaurant, The Hardware Company. In April of 2002, Hazel Ramos-Cano and Richard Cano purchased the property. The kitchen was completely renovated and new dining areas were added. The new owners renamed the restaurant in honor of the original family.
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