Nel's Tahoe Hardware closes after almost 80 years of supplying South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As the South Shore started developing and homes were being built in the 1940s, Tahoe Supply Co. was the only place in the area to buy nails, screws, and all other hardware needs. Linne Nelson bought the store in May 1945 from Jack and Irene Meyn who wanted to focus their business adventures on Trading Posts and photography. (Many South Lake Tahoe locals may know the mural on the side of the current El Dorado County building at the corner of Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Takelar Drive - that is Irene Meyn).

Dave Wakeman, who has lived on the South Shore since the early days of Tahoe Supply Co., said the business moved locations more than any other business, from one rented building into another. He said it was first located in the space that is currently home to Bank of America. Linne "Nel" Nelson then got together with Cecil Caple (who later owned Cecil's Deli in South Lake Tahoe), and they operated a space that is now home to Fremont Mall with Nel doing hardware and Cecil selling sportswear. The original Safeway then moved in and the hardware store moved across the street to where Tahoe Beach Retreat is now located.

The hardware store moving wasn't done yet and it relocated into the building where Tep's Villa Roma was, prior to it becoming a restaurant.

Meanwhile, on Fremont Avenue, the builders of the Bijou neighborhood built a pool hall. Wakeman said that was not an "effective economic decision" and they split the pool hall in two and rented out the front half to the newly formed City of South Lake Tahoe Police Department on July 1, 1967.

One last move was in store, and the business was relocated to where it has stood for years on Fremont Avenue after the pool hall closed and the police department moved to its current location at Johnson Blvd./Al Tahoe Blvd.

The Nelson family, and son-in-law Jerry Johnson, ran the business that was renamed Nel’s Tahoe Supply until it was sold in 1993. It was later Nel's Tahoe Hardware though most locals, old-timers and new arrivals, just say "Nel's" and everyone knows what they're talking about.

Wakeman said it was a boutique hardware store where one could buy one screw, get needed help, shoot the breeze, and catch up with friends.

That legacy sadly ended on July 31 as the business closed and the property is for sale.

It had been an unusual path for Steve Dewhurst and Louise Roberts. They had an elevator business in Texas when they purchased an RV from a couple in Florida who had owned a hardware store. Steve and Louise bought a home near Heavenly and told their realtor that if a local business came up for sale to let them know.

Steve and Louise first purchased Scotty's hardware store on Kingsbury Grade in 2012, followed by Nel's in 2017.

COVID and the Caldor Fire made business tough for the local stores. Online sales increased for large retailers and the nursery portion of Nel's faced serious losses during that time. Coupled with a rise in the minimum wage and an increase in costs, taxes, and regulations, they asked themselves "why?" they continued to operate.

The Kingsbury location was sold and is still in operation, but the South Lake Tahoe store is closing up.

Steve and Louise are in the process of cleaning out all of the inventory, shelving, and supplies. They are donating the old photos and memorabilia to the Lake Tahoe Historical Society.

They had sold the Heavenly house a while ago and live at Cave Rock, as well as still maintaining their Texas home. While they won't be in the hardware business they will continue their consulting business and other endeavors including real estate.

Louise, who is a Reno native, said she is looking forward to finding a retirement home, someday.

"We are the worst retirement people on earth," they said.