Pennsylvania store earns PRO accolades

Warehouse Sales & PRO Hardware of Sharon, Pa., won the 2009 Paul L. Cosgrave Memorial Award from Denver-based PRO Group, the hardware store merchandising and marketing organization.

Owned by Mike and Sonja Lisac, Warehouse Sales was founded in 1951 and was purchased by the current owners in 2000. In addition to traditional hardware store items, the 17,500-sq.-ft. store distinguishes itself with a variety of retailing services -- golf club regripping, used clothing and wholesale sale of soda to restaurants and bar owners.

PRO Group also noted the store's involvement in the community. The owners purchased abandoned buildings and put the staff to work refurbishing the properties as a way to return vitality to the historic downtown area of the old steel mill town, according to PRO Group.

The Paul L. Cosgrave Memorial Award Finalist was Burgess Feed & PRO Hardware of Benton, Tenn. The 41-year-old store is run the the family's third generation and is owned by Steve and Dana Burgess, and managed by their daughter, Stephanie Burgess Everett.