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Ever since Elizabeth Shipley-Moses and her husband John moved to Falls Church, Virginia, in 1977, they’ve been deliberate about shopping at Brown’s Hardware.

If she needs a screw, a store staff member will find one. When there are things that she thinks are fixable, but that nobody else wanted to fix, those same workers offered their support.

At larger retail stores, Shipley-Moses said, you can buy a package of 100 screws. At the Falls Church shop, customers can get just what they need.

“It’s very sad,” Shipley-Moses said, after telling a store worker that she’d be back soon to say goodbye, before the store closes for good. “Pretty soon we won’t have stores like this.”

The shop, which James Brown launched in the 1800s as a general store, stayed in his family for three generations. It evolved into a full-service hardware store, which cuts glass, repairs screens and windows and sells plumbing, electrical and garden supplies. They emphasized customer service, which helped them compete with nearby Home Depot.

But the Brown family suspected there would come a time that the business wouldn’t be worth as much as the property. John Taylor, the current owner, said the executor of the family’s estate received an offer that was too good to pass up.

Current plans, Taylor said, have the space being transformed into a restaurant. The closing on the real estate is set for April 1, but he said, “We will probably be here pretty much to the end.”

ARLNow first reported the store’s plans to close.

“The offer that came through was good, and at the time, he (the executor) thought it was time to do it,” Taylor said.

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The store has been on the same corner for 142 years, Taylor said. When Route 29 was expanded, a new store had to be built.

Brown’s has been a community fixture for so long, at one point, the shop had the only phone line to the only doctor in town.

Many of the store’s customers live within walking distance, Taylor said, or within a mile or two by car. The shop offered free delivery for mulch, and focused on the “little things,” such as lamp and screen repair.

Business soared during the pandemic, because many people worked from home, but there’s been a “steady decline” every month ever since, Taylor said.

“We weighed in all the factors — declining business, how people would come in and they’d say, ‘Well, thanks for the help, but I punched my phone in here, and I still can get it cheaper on Amazon or at Home Depot, so I’m going to go there,’” Taylor said.

“That’s kind of disheartening when that kind of stuff happens after you spent 15 minutes working with the customer on plumbing or something,” he added.

Some of the older residents will struggle, Taylor suspects, because they don’t have technology to be able to assist them with a plumbing or paint job or electrical repair.

But a new Whole Foods opened across the street from Brown’s, and there are new condominiums too, “so that’s just a sign of the times. That’s what they want. They want the tax base, and that’s about the end of that,” Taylor said.

Many of the neighborhood’s younger residents, Taylor said, are buying big houses with small yards, and they have an HOA that maintains the lawn and handles repairs.

“It’s just a different generation coming up now,” Taylor said. “It’s not going to be the same ever again.”

John Moses called Brown’s a “fixture in the city.”

“Things don’t last forever,” Moses said. “Considering when this started, it’s amazing it lasted this long.”

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Justice High School's adaptation of "Almost, Maine" in late March featured nine short vignettes of different couples.

Emily Leayman, Patch Staff

By Mariah Adams of Mount Vernon High School

Almost, Maine, written by John Cariani and first performed in 2004, is a heartfelt and whimsical exploration of love, with all its complexities. Set on a winter night on a Friday in the quiet, remote town of Almost, Maine, the play is unique in its structure, consisting of nine short vignettes that offer snapshots of various couples. Each vignette shows one of the different aspects of love, from falling in love to falling out of it. The production at Justice High School brought these touching moments to life with a blend of humor, raw emotion, and captivating performances.

An amazing performance came from the scene between supporting actors Gayle, played by Rahel Kassa, and Lendall, played by Jason Gonzalez-Canales. Kassa's performance was nothing short of powerful, whether she was in disgusted denial or overwhelmed with love, she showed raw, brilliantly executed emotion. Her more intense, emotional performance was beautifully contrasted by Gonzalez-Canales's more grounded one. His calm demeanor, shown through gentle movements and a soft, loving tone, showed his understanding of his role and perfectly captured the "opposites attract" theme that echoed throughout the scene.

Hope, portrayed by supporting actor Sofi Hemmens, brought an incredible mix of comedic timing and deep reflection to her role. Their portrayal balanced moments of embarrassment with reflective pauses, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the character's inner conflict with her past decisions and her current rash actions. Hemmens's ability to shift from light-hearted, almost awkward humor to moments of genuine emotional depth was a testament to their impressive acting range and their use of timing and inflection to do this shows their amazing acting ability.

The set design by Lucas Phinney was another highlight of the production, contributing greatly to the cozy and intimate atmosphere of the play. The snow globe framing around the stage emphasized the feeling of a small world where these fleeting moments of love could unfold. The addition of a detailed house front set piece with a functional porch light gave the performance a realistic touch, making the fictional town of Almost come to life.

Find out what's happening in Falls Churchfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The lighting, done by Chloe Bernasconi, also nicely added to the show, enhancing the emotional tone of the play. The lighting design subtly emphasized the themes of love and connection, with pink hues illuminating the more romantic moments. Special lighting effects were used to simulate a shooting star as well as simulate snowfall during set transitions, creative touches that made this production just a bit more magical.

Overall, Justice High School's production of Almost, Maine was a beautiful reflection of the complexities of love and relationships. With strong performances, a thoughtful set design, and inventive lighting choices, the production succeeded in creating a warm, intimate atmosphere that made the audience feel like they were witnessing these love stories firsthand. From the humorous to the heartfelt, the show delivered a series of moments that resonated deeply with all who were lucky enough to witness them.

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More from Falls Church

MARCH 2025 - Small businesses at the Graham Center in Falls Church, Va. (7News)

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (7News) — On a cold day, there's something so comforting about a large bowl of pho. But at Pho Golden Cow in Falls Church, that comfort is fleeting.

"Very sad. Very sad," described Tim Le, the owner.

He took over the business last year to fulfill a family friend's dying wish.

"He get sick and he ask me buy the place," remembered Le. "I say I will. So you know, I'm here."

Little did he know then, he wouldn't be here for long. Le said he had no idea VHC Health had bought the property.

Northern Virginia will soon be home to a new health care facility, but that move will also displace a group of small businesses that have called the Graham Center in Falls Church home for decades.

From a shoe repair store, dentist office, salon, to a handful of restaurants, all of these businesses are in the process of leaving this plaza along Route 50.

In mid August, Le, along with other tenants, received a letter from VHC Health letting them know their lease would be over by the end of March 2025, to allow for new construction for the new medical facility.

"It's very short notice," said Le.

SEE ALSO | Rural small business owners urge lawmakers to prioritize their growth

Grass roots organization, A Viet Place Collective, has been helping them navigate the change.

"A lot of them don't understand that they're entitled to help," said Hoinam Nguyen.

He said these businesses, many minority owned, are being taken advantage of.

"During public board meetings for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, they mentioned how this is a win win for everybody," said Nguyen. "But I noticed they left out the small businesses. They left out the businesses that got displaced.

He's pushing for a lease extension, rent relief, something to help these businesses stay afloat during this tough transition.

SEE ALSO | Falls Church 'Medical Brigade' donates 150 surgeries to underserved in Honduras

"I think it'll be really devastating for these businesses to close down," said Nguyen.

VHC sent 7News details about their efforts saying:

"They put up some signs that were very small, like near the road," described Nguyen. "But there needs to be more outreach."

Viet Place Collective told 7News the small businesses "have provided integral community services, products, and food to the multicultural communities of Falls Church and the greater area for decades."

A core organizer for Viet Place Collective, Binh Ly, said in a statement:

“Fairfax County approved this development without consulting the impacted small businesses and without considering how this displacement of the businesses and their workers would affect the community. It’s clear that the outreach that’s legally required is neither sufficient nor considerate."

Supervisor Dalia Palchik told 7News in a statement:

“We facilitated a meeting between VHC, Viet Place Collective, and several business owners onsite last week. We brought several county agencies, including the Department of Economic Initiatives, One Fairfax, and Neighborhood and Community Services, to provide additional resources and help us learn from the entrepreneurs. I was encouraged by the dialogue and the additional concessions made by VHC to support the business owners, and their conversations are still ongoing. It was a productive meeting, and we thank all of those who attended. We also had helpful takeaways for similar circumstances in the future.”

"It's just important that these businesses get help," said Nguyen.

Many of these businesses can't make profits while also moving.

"I just want to be a business owner, and I love to be a business owner of the Pho Golden Cow," said Le. "It's part of my goal and part of my dream to own the restaurant."

A dream he'll have to fulfill elsewhere in just a few weeks.

A Viet Place Collective tells 7 News after the meeting facilitated by Fairfax County, VHC Health has offered tenants who have paid rent through February:

"We are pleased that VHC has agreed to the requests of the business owners. It will help ease the burden of having to close down their business and/or relocate," the organization said.

As for the new facility, VHC said it "will provide highly in-demand emergency, urgent care and imaging services to the community less than 15 minutes and 4.6 miles from the hospital campus."

The little brass bell on the door of Brown’s Hardware jingled — just like it had for 142 years — as the first customers of the day walked in.

Merchandise like wire strippers, work gloves and ball valves occupied every inch of the store not long ago, but were mostly gone now. Johnny Cash and June Carter’s song “Jackson” hummed from the stereo in the back.

A shopper and a clerk were talking. Then came hugs.

This wasn’t just the end of a store. This was the loss of a community’s anchor.

Owner John Taylor, 73, had witnessed this bond between his business and its customers for years. Northern Virginia has experienced several decades of commercial and residential development. Some small businesses have struggled to compete and had to close.

But Brown’s managed to hang on.

With the store now shutting down, Taylor found himself with no inventory to count, no orders to place and no shelves to stock.

James W. Brown opened his shop at the historic crossroads of Falls Church in 1883. The town got its name from the nearby chapel where George Washington had been a vestry. Some believe first lady Dolley Madison may have passed through the area to flee a burning Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812.

About 70 years later — when the Washington Monument was nearing completion — Brown’s Groceries and Hardware opened for business. Thieves tried to dynamite the store’s safe in 1884 and blew out the front of the place, Taylor said, but they never breached the lock.

The business passed down three generations to Hugh Brown, James W. Brown’s great-grandson. Before dying in 2018 at age 92, he arranged for Taylor — who was hired in 1997 — to become owner of the store when he was gone. Taylor said Brown knew he would carry on his legacy after taking over.

Taylor has worked at the store long enough to remember the “Snowmaggedon” blizzard of 2010, when shovels and sleds were flying off the shelves. He said he rang one of the highest-grossing sale days he’d ever seen at Brown’s. During the coronavirus pandemic, the store stayed open because it was considered an essential business, Taylor said. But inflation and supply-chain issues caused chaos.

The last day will be March 31. Stoic amid these final weeks, Taylor said it was sad to keep a place going through so many challenges just to see it close.

It was no secret that commercial real estate developers had been hungry for his space. Last year, there was a good offer for the property and it was sold, Taylor said.

Regular clientele appreciated that Brown’s sold things in small quantities, unlike many big-box stores. The staff would sometimes fix a broken toy, a loose lacrosse mask or a busted hose free of charge.

Now, with most items at half price, customers were buying everything from glass display cases to wood shelving. The battered safe is expected to go to the city of Falls Church.

Trent Brooks, a 70-year-old customer from Northeast Washington, recently bought the four-person staff hamburgers for lunch. He said news of the store’s closure was a “gut punch.”

John Lawrence, 64, said his teenage son landed his first job there. He chuckled a bit, remembering that Brown’s didn’t offer direct deposit for paychecks.

The business mostly resisted the trappings of computers and digital merchant systems. But the modern world caught up with it, Taylor said, as shoppers increasingly chose Amazon over in-store purchases.

Taylor jokes that he’ll soon be a minor nuisance to his wife. “I’ve been working six days a week most of my life,” he said. “I don’t have a lot of hobbies. This is my hobby — work.”

He’ll do occasional odd jobs with retirement. But nothing will replace regular shifts at the store.

“It’ll be nice to have a month or two off,” Taylor said. “But then after that, it’s going to be, ‘What do I do now?’”

For now, the task was to sell as much of the store as possible and say goodbye to familiar faces.

Peter Byrd, 69, who works at Foxes Music Company nearby, surveyed the patchwork of empty tea green, rose pink and golden brown pegboard covering the walls. “I never once came here when they didn’t have what I was looking for,” he said.

He picked through the bins, looking for something to buy. Then, he sighed.

“This is America,” he said.

A previous version of this article incorrectly said that George Washington had been a vestry. He was a member of the vestry.