| Our History |
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.
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.
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By 1909 Layfayette had withdrawn from the business for other ventures and K.C. became
sole owner. K.C. (Kit Carson) married a local girl and his 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. The name was changed from Berdines Five and
Dime to Berdines Variety Store, though many local residents continued to refer to it as
“The Five and Dime.”
.
sole owner. K.C. (Kit Carson) married a local girl and his 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. The name was changed from Berdines Five and
Dime to Berdines Variety Store, though many local residents continued to refer to it as
“The Five and Dime.”
.
| KC Berdine and sons circa 1910 |
Fred Berdine worked in his fathers store from the time he
was tall enough to peer over the counter, and in 1954, Fred
took over the store from his father. K.C. successfully ran
the store for 46 years, and Fred operated the store for the
next 28 years. In 1982 the store was purchased by the
current owners, the Six family of Harrisville.
In the 25 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
Berdines stands as a piece of history to locals while those
traveling from states away to enjoy it’s diverse and fun
products as well as the feel of yesterday. Many locals recall
family members shopping there for generations. The
store's philosophy remains just the same as it was when K.
C. first opened its doors a century ago: treat each
was tall enough to peer over the counter, and in 1954, Fred
took over the store from his father. K.C. successfully ran
the store for 46 years, and Fred operated the store for the
next 28 years. In 1982 the store was purchased by the
current owners, the Six family of Harrisville.
In the 25 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
Berdines stands as a piece of history to locals while those
traveling from states away to enjoy it’s diverse and fun
products as well as the feel of yesterday. Many locals recall
family members shopping there for generations. 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 solving to maintain
necessary and novel products in a pleasant,
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. Today, after a century, it is the place for
which children save their money to shop at
for candy or the special odd toy.
necessary and novel products in a pleasant,
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. Today, after a century, it is the place for
which children save their money to shop at
for candy or the special odd toy.
| Fred Berdine circa 1965 |
| The Berdine's Variety sign behind the Berdine's Five and Dime awning |