The “go to” man in the Glebe
Clay Anderson has been a friendly and helpful face at Capital Home Hardware for 20 years this month.
Photo: Pat Marshall
By Pat Marshall
Who do you go to for advice before calling in a plumber or electrician or for any other problems that arise around the house? Or if you’re a dog, who do you run to for the best treats going? Why, Clay at Capital Home Hardware of course!
Clay Anderson has been at Home Hardware for 20 years this month, so you might say he is a fixture there (pun intended!).
Let’s find out a little about the man.
Clay Anderson hails from Knoxville, Tennessee (aha, that explains his delightful accent) and came to live in Amherstberg, Ontario, near Windsor, in 1985 to start a family. He moved to Ottawa in 2004 to be near his three boys (who all attended Glebe Collegiate). As a former salesman, he immediately joined the Capital Home Hardware team and is now its longest-serving employee, much to the delight of customers.
Two of his sons have returned to live in Amherstberg: Lucas, who got married last year, and Armand, who is about to be married this fall. Guino got married in 2019, lives in Toronto and has a two-year-old daughter, Gigi.
Can you find romance in a hardware store? Absolutely!
Anderson met Ann Sanderson, a Glebite since 1989, through her frequent visits to Home Hardware. They have been a happy couple since 2006 and conveniently live five minutes away from the store. Sanderson was a long-time public servant and still works as a consultant for the federal government. One of their greatest joys is spending time with Sanderson’s daughter Melanie, her husband Geoff, four-year-old Charlotte and one-year-old Juliette. Melanie was raised in the Glebe, going to First Avenue School and then Immaculata before moving to Toronto to attend Ryerson University and work as an interior designer. She is thrilled to be back living in the Glebe now, close to her children’s “Grandma and Poppy.”
Looking back over his 20 years at Home Hardware, Clay particularly remembers 2012 when Marc and Isabel Clement took over ownership of the store. They made a number of changes to modernize merchandizing (see those computer terminals?) and expand the selection of products available; it became not just nuts and bolts, but also a wider variety of household items. That year as well, Anderson had the honour of meeting Walter Hachborn, the main founder of Home Hardware stores in 1964, as well as renowned gardening expert Mark Cullen.
Anderson recalled that on one of his days off, he was going for a walk and met up with Marc Clement and young son William. After a little visit, they parted ways and he overheard the young boy ask his dad, “Why isn’t he working in the store today?”
Anderson’s friendly face and million-dollar smile are a treat for customers, as is the aroma of freshly made popcorn that he gives out on special days. He is a favourite of all the dogs who often pull their owners into the store to get a friendly pat and a treat from Clay and the other staff members.
Anderson is proud to be working at a store that features professional and friendly service for Glebe residents and visitors. We have all seen a number of stores change over time on this part of Bank Street, but Capital Home Hardware has remained a popular spot since 1970.
Clay loves to walk around the neighbourhood. So, if you see him, stop and have a little chat with him. It will be a pleasant encounter!
Pat Marshall has lived in the Glebe for more than 35 years and is a regular Home Hardware customer.
