While the shop is open today, it is already advertised that the site currently housing Robinson’s Hardware presently, is formerly a hardware store. The advertising materials shown above and below are actively promoted online at commercial realty site LoopNet, among others.
Since it’s inception, Robinson’s Hardware has been a small business operated by families. The business was founded in 1874 by a man named John Robinson and John Holden and at that time was called Holden & Robertson. This business is believed to have operated out of Holden, MA.
Holden was bought out, and from the early 1900’s it became known as J.H & S.M Robinson’s – a father and son mercantile business and in the 30’s as Robinson’s Hardware. In 1963 the business was sold to a new family, Norm & Marion Underwood. Their family grew, and in the 70’s, sons Dirk, Kim and Jeff joined the family business. In 1996, Marion passed, and in 1997 Norm passed the business on to the current ownership, in the three brothers.
…and we’re now hearing that internal family strife may be pulling the business apart.
it won’t be here in Framingham!
Based on tips, we are speculating that the current lease ends at end of 2023. We are also speculating that the business will not have a going out of business sale, and will be transferring their inventory to their Hudson location. Will the store just suddenly close without any fanfare? An anonymous source has indicted that there may have been disagreements within the brothers on the future of the business in the last year, and that Jeff Underwood may have been voted out or been bought out of the leadership group. The Pinefield Plaza store was run day to day mostly under Jeff’s leadership, so if it getting shuttered – it won’t be a total shock.
Evidence of internal structure changes exist at the state level at the Secretary of State corporation division. Annual filings on the business entity owning Robinson’s Hardware, named for father Norm and sons, N R Underwood & Sons, the state has Kim, Jeff, and Dirk as directors in 2022, with a filing date of 9/22/2023.
A few months later, the 2023 annual filing was issued with a date of 10/11/203, and Jeff appears to have been dropped from the leadership.
The home, owned by Jeff since 1986, and prior owned by his parents since 1959, was sold late in 2020. Brothers Kim and Dirk, and their families continue to reside in Hudson.
Rumors only. I can assure you as the store manager and after speaking with Kim Underwood, we are NOT closing !