The Rise and Fall of B. Simon Hardware: An Oakland Institution
For over six decades, B. Simon Hardware Co. was more than just a store in Oakland; it was a foundational institution, a multi-generational family dynasty, and a cherished landmark woven into the city's very fabric. At its peak, it was reputedly the largest hardware store west of the Mississippi. Its story, beginning with a lone immigrant's pushcart and ending with the seismic changes of urban renewal, is a powerful chronicle of a bygone era in Oakland.
From Pushcart to Powerhouse
The Simon legacy began not with a grand storefront, but with the grit of a great-grandmother. In 1903, Rebecca Simon began selling hardware from a pushcart at 5th and Broadway. Her business acumen was sharp, and each year she moved a block closer to the heart of downtown. By 1906, she had secured goods on credit from Pacific Imports in San Francisco and opened her first storefront at 8th and Broadway.
As the business grew, it became a true family enterprise. Rebecca’s two sons, Jacob (Jake) and Louis (Lou) Simon, became instrumental in building its community foundation. They would go to the docks to greet incoming European immigrants, offering not just a welcome but also the promise of credit to skilled tradesmen looking to build a new life. This practice of extending credit, especially during the Great Depression, cemented an unbreakable bond with the local community. It is said that when Jacob Simon passed away in 1945, over 3,000 people attended his funeral—a testament to the deep gratitude of the tradesmen he had kept in business.
After Louis passed away in the 1950s, ownership transferred to the next generation: cousins Aaron Simon (Jacob's son) and Bert Simon. They guided the store into its golden age.
A Four-Story World of "Everything"
The B. Simon Hardware at 808-824 Broadway was a four-story world of wonders. To customers, it was a place that "had everything." Former employees and patrons recall a store with a life of its own. Kids in the 1960s would nervously ride the elevators up and down. A finished carpenter, hired to install new fixtures, was part of its constant evolution. From a perch on a platform overlooking the second floor, family patriarch Benjamin Simon, in his tailored suit, would watch over the business he had built.
The store was a hub of activity. One employee’s brother, a Lionel train collector, was given the honor of building the store’s magnificent Christmas train layout in the window each year. In the back parking lot, the Simons sponsored a 1/4 midget racing team, allowing the young drivers to practice after hours. It was a place where you could buy your first 10-speed bicycle for $50, purchase a wood-burning stove, cash your work check, or, like many Oaklanders, pay your monthly bill in person.
It was also a forward-thinking business. The store was an early adopter of technology, installing one of the first computerized inventory and point-of-sale systems from IBM to manage its vast and diverse stock.
The Bomb in the Basement
The family’s commitment to the community was tested in a dramatic and terrifying way. On Thursday, December 22, 1960, the store became the target of a harrowing extortion plot. A disgruntled cabinetmaker, deep in debt, planted a "bottle-bomb" in the basement and demanded $10,000. It fell to Aaron Simon to play a central role in the police sting. He was tasked with delivering the fake ransom money to a drop point on the freeway to lure the perpetrator out. The plot was foiled and the suspect apprehended, but the event, which made the front page of the Oakland Tribune, left an indelible mark on the Simon family.
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The End of an Era
For years, a local legend circulated that the sharp turn in the BART tunnel near the store was designed to avoid its basement. The truth, according to the Simon family, was far more tragic. The massive construction of the BART line in the late 1960s made accessing the flagship store nearly impossible for customers. The disruption proved fatal.
After a "going out of business sale" that many residents remember from 1969, B. Simon Hardware filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The institution that had survived the Great Depression and had been a cornerstone of downtown for 66 years was gone.
Aaron and Bert Simon went on to work for the new owner of their former Walnut Creek store. Aaron, who dearly loved his customers and the business his family built, passed away in April 2009. The legacy of B. Simon Hardware, however, lives on vividly in the memories of countless Oaklanders—a story not just of hardware, but of family, community, and the enduring spirit of a great American city.
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