KC Berdine at the original location. Corner of Court & Main Streets circa 1909
The story of Berdine's begins in 1908 when K.C. Berdine and his brother, Lafayette, relocated from Pennsylvania to Harrisville, West Virginia after a brief effort to establish a store in Weston, WV.
Harrisville was then winding down from an oil and gas boom that had turned Harrisville into a bustling town almost overnight. K.C. and Layfayette opened the doors to Hunt & Berdine's Five and Dime, locating their store
on the corner of Court and Main Streets.
By 1909 Layfayette had withdrawn from the business for other ventures ties to the community were set.
K.C. and his wife worked to meet the needs of local customers, guaranteeing no prices would be higher than 10 cents. In 1915, the business moved to its present location on Court Street. The new location was also then a new building with the first floor built specifically to accommodate the 5 & Dime.
Harrisville was then winding down from an oil and gas boom that had turned Harrisville into a bustling town almost overnight. K.C. and Layfayette opened the doors to Hunt & Berdine's Five and Dime, locating their store
on the corner of Court and Main Streets.
By 1909 Layfayette had withdrawn from the business for other ventures ties to the community were set.
K.C. and his wife worked to meet the needs of local customers, guaranteeing no prices would be higher than 10 cents. In 1915, the business moved to its present location on Court Street. The new location was also then a new building with the first floor built specifically to accommodate the 5 & Dime.
Fred Berdine cica 1965
K.C. successfully ran the store for 46 years, and Fred operated the store for the next 28 years. In 1983
the store was purchased by the current owners, the Six family of Harrisville. In 2011 the Six family will
match Fred’s record of owning the store for 28 years.
In the years since the time the Six family acquired the store, they have returned the store to its original look and feel. Modern “improvements” were stripped away and golden oak counter tops re-emerged and glass divided bins and classic clip on price tags all re-appeared. Today Berdine's stands as a landmark of local of history. Shoppers enjoy the store's diverse and fun products as well as the feel of yesterday. Many locals tell stories passed down from generation to generation about how their family members purchased their supplies and provisions at Berdine's.
the store was purchased by the current owners, the Six family of Harrisville. In 2011 the Six family will
match Fred’s record of owning the store for 28 years.
In the years since the time the Six family acquired the store, they have returned the store to its original look and feel. Modern “improvements” were stripped away and golden oak counter tops re-emerged and glass divided bins and classic clip on price tags all re-appeared. Today Berdine's stands as a landmark of local of history. Shoppers enjoy the store's diverse and fun products as well as the feel of yesterday. Many locals tell stories passed down from generation to generation about how their family members purchased their supplies and provisions at Berdine's.
Berdine's today
The store's philosophy remains just the same as it was when K.C. first opened its doors a century ago: treat each customer special while striving to maintain a friendly shopping experience. Today, every customer is greeted warmly, with our employees understanding that treating others with civility is more important than making a sale.
After a century Berdine's remains the place where children save their money to shop for candy or the special odd toy.
Stop by soon and you'll see why!
After a century Berdine's remains the place where children save their money to shop for candy or the special odd toy.
Stop by soon and you'll see why!