THE ADLER’S STORY
Building Relationships With
Superb Customer Service Since 1919
Adler's is a unique home goods store with just about anything you need. Harry and Marc Adler are co-owners who are honored to have created such a deep and rewarding community in which to work and live. Stop by Adler’s Design Center & Hardware in Providence, Rhode Island, and you’ll see where old-school meets upscale.
When Adler’s Opened Its Doors in 1919…
Woodrow Wilson was President.
The 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was proposed.
Prohibition began.
The Grand Canyon become a National Park.
The pop-up toaster, short-wave radio, and flip-flop circuit were invented.
A FAMILY LEGACY
Fred Adler opened Adler's Army-Navy in 1919 with two goals: treat each customer with respect, and offer quality at a reasonable price. Fred passed that philosophy down to his sons, Carl and Irving, who imparted it to the third (and current) generation of Adler's owners, their sons Harry and Marc.
1919
Three generations ago, Fred Adler, a Romanian immigrant, opened Adler's Army & Navy Store. He originally trained as an engraver, but at age 27, he began his success as a retailer of World War 1 Army and Navy surplus in Providence, RI. Later, general work clothes were added, and Adler’s became a leading local purveyor of denim work clothes, overalls, and shirts.
1930
The second generation is born with brothers Irving Adler (left) and Carl Adler (right). Growing up, they spent many hours in the store with their parents learning the family business. Irving is Harry’s father and Carl is Marc’s father. Cousins, Harry and Marc Adler are the present and 3rd generation owners of Adler’s Design Center & Hardware.
1946
Fred and his wife, Esther, welcomed their two adult sons home after serving in the US Army in World War II. Irving and Carl entered the family business - Irving on Wickenden Street, and Carl opened a new location downtown on Westminster Street, both in Providence.
Adler’s 105 years
Adler's Design Center & Hardware has moved into its 105th year! We started as an Army-Navy clothing shop, and the pivots and changes never stopped.
Watch to see co-owners, Harry and Marc Adler, reflect on their experiences growing up in the family business and talk about what Adler’s mission has always been.
Evolution of Adler’s
The 1960’s - Adler’s Fox Point Hardware
In the early 1960’s, our Westminster Street location closed when Interstate 95 was constructed. In that year the two stores’ inventories were combined on Wickenden Street in Providence, RI - where we reside today.
During the transformation and increase of construction and development in Providence, RI, the Adler brothers responded by changing our name to Adler’s Fox Point Hardware. This began the expansion of our hardware department and servicing a wider Providence community. We expanded our building by 50%, and our storefront was remodeled with new fixtures added.
The hardware, plumbing, paint, and electrical departments met the growing demands as local renovations continued.
In the early sixties two major movements had an effect on Adler's. The first was urban renewal, the second, "gentrification." The Fox Point area was for most of the twentieth-century, a slum. In the sixties, Arthur Sulzburger, a New York real estate developer, bought property on South Main Street, mostly old warehouse buildings from the 1800's. He renovated them into first class retail and office space. This triggered the start of a period of major single-family home rehabs.
The 1970’s - Building Remodel
The building was significantly remodeled in 1972, very close to what you see today.
The second, third, and fourth floor rental units of Adler’s Fox Point Hardware were replaced by a large second floor storage area. Also, two additions extended the first floor and the basement.
The 1990’s - Expansion of Paint & Design Center
In the Spring of 1994, the paint department was expanded, and a wallpaper department was added. Adler’s became a founder of the C2 Paint line in 1998, when a group of paint retailers and a chemist got together to develop what customers were asking for - a high-quality paint line created with color mixing chemistry and innovation. Since then, Adler’s has been the largest distributor of C2 Paint in the United States for more than 20 years.
In 1995, as our Design Center grew, we began offering a wide selection of window treatments - and it’s still growing today! Also at this time our decorative hardware department started to grow as we added more options for cabinet hardware.
With decades of experience and a knowledgeable staff, home improvement and design has become a statement of who we are today. With all these changes and innovations, one thing has remained just as it was in 1919: making sure that every customer is treated like a guest in the Adler home.
Adler's is a unique home goods store with just about anything you need. A large part of our business serves real estate developers, property maintenance companies, universities, contractors, churches, and community centers. Homeowners and renters, college students just arriving in town or long-time residents all know where to go for friendly service and quality goods.
Harry and Marc Adler, along with Marc’s wife Janice, manage the day-to-day and are honored to have created such a deep and rewarding community in which to work and live.