Whether you’re a do-it-your-selfer or a contractor, when you need that one particular item to finish a job, you need it now, and you need it nearby.
That’s a lot more easily and readily accomplished thanks to the recent expansion of Carnevale’s Sonoita Hardware.
“We have always had big plans for this place, a store that people can come in and get everything they need and not have to drive 45 minutes to Sierra Vista, Nogales or Tucson.”
— Mike Carnevale, General Manager
The store, located at 3149 Highway 83, has been an essential part of the community since it was founded in 1983. It was purchased by Joe and Stephani Carnevale in August, 2020, who set their sights on expanding its footprint and inventory. That mission was accomplished this spring with the opening of a 5,000-square-foot building that faces the Highway, providing greater visibility. The new building connects to the original 4,200-square-foot facility tucked behind it, more than doubling the floor space. Not quite a big-box hardware warehouse, but complete enough to save countless hours on the road and miles on the pickup.
“We have always had big plans for this place, a store that people can come in and get everything they need and not have to drive 45 minutes to Sierra Vista, Nogales or Tucson,” said Mike Carnevale, the store’s general manager and brother of Joe Carnevale.
“Everybody’s still getting used to how much stuff we now have,” he said. “We’re just adding more and more.”
The additional stuff falls into a wide variety of buckets: electrical, RV equipment, lighting, faucets, paint and even bird seed, which Carnevale was in the process of unloading and inventorying before being interrupted to have his photo taken.
“We’ve got tons of bird seed now,” he said. “Tons more household goods. A lot more tools. Doubled the amount of nuts and bolts.”
The original building in the back will primarily focus on serving the construction trades, with expanded lumber, electrical and plumbing supplies and rental equipment.
“If something goes down, or say we need a scissor lift out here, well, they don’t have to stop what they’re doing and drive for two hours just to get a scissor lift and waste that much time on the job site,” Carnevale said.
The Carnevales have also maintained their plethora of greeting cards and unique gift items. Many of these items celebrate the Sonoita/Elgin area so are especially popular with the community.
The store currently has 13 employees, with hopes of adding more. Although it never shut down during construction, plans are in the works for a grand reopening and six-year anniversary event to introduce the new digs to the community.
“The only reason we are able to do as much as we’re doing is because of the community support,” Carnevale said.