The employees of the new Pro Hardware store join owner Alex Vaillancourt, Mayor Sam Teresi and County Executive George Borrello for the ribbon cutting of the new store that opened a few weeks ago on Fluvanna Avenue, near the Jamestown Veterinarian Hospital. P-J photo by Carly Gould

North side residents of Jamestown now have a hardware store closer to home.

Pro Hardware opened its 176 Fluvanna Ave. store on Labor Day weekend and celebrated with a ribbon cutting Thursday. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, Assemblyman Andy Goodell and County Executive George Borrello.

“I know the (Fluvanna) plaza owner,” said Alex Vaillancourt, Pro Hardware owner. “My grandpa was in the hardware business and my father was a contractor, so it kind of runs in my blood. I was the manager of Farm Fresh Foods for 10 years, so it stayed with me.”

The store is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The store offers a variety of hardware tools for automobiles, paint, outdoors and every day use. The store also has a key making service to carve out keys for homes and automobiles, and a paint mixing station. Pro Hardware also sells pet supplies.

Teresi noted that the store has a great location with good traffic and exposure. He said people on the north side of Jamestown will now have a place to shop without going too far out of their way.

“If we had a jar with a quarter for every person who said ‘We love you on this side of town,’ it would be full in no time,” said Sheila Hultin, the store manager.

Goodell and Teresi said they are looking forward to coming to the store in the future. Vaillancourt said all nine of his staff are trained to be experts, keeping to the name “Pro.” He added they’re adding business with contractors as well.

“I want to be more personal with people,” Vaillancourt said. “It’s hard when you go to the big box store and the people just walk away. With this store, you don’t have to wander around looking for service, we’re waiting right at the entrance, ready to help.”

Contact Pro Hardware by calling 484-4460 or visit the store’s Facebook page.