Since 1916, Planters Hardware has been a staple in the small-town community of Ashland, Alabama—and their 107 years of contributions to the town were just recognized by the Alabama Retail Association. Here’s their story.

The story of Planters Hardware & Building Inc.

In 1916, the Runyan family began operating the very first downtown location of Planters Hardware, but the story starts even earlier with the Garrett Family.

In the late 1800s, the Garretts founded the business, naming it for planters who would buy seeds and equipment on credit, then pay their debts after the harvest.

Since around 1916, the Runyan family has owned and operated the business. Over 100 years later, the Runyan family still owns the business, now on its third generation. It started with brothers Boyd and Bruner Runyan, who passed on the business to Joe Runyan.

Joe, who only recently retired after decades of working at Planters, was well-known in the community. His grandson, Cole Runyan, remembers it vividly.

“Probably eight out of the 10 people who would come through the doors, varying people who weren’t even from Clay County, would sit down beside him and chat and have whole conversations about their family life.

He would know their family, who their father was, where they lived. It was just crazy.”
Cole Runyan via the Alabama Retail Association

Joe’s son Walt took over the business in the late 1990s, and Walt’s family has continued to make Planters a welcoming place for the community to come whenever they need anything fixed. They still do things the old-fashioned way, building relationships with their customers and writing out tickets by hand.

On Wednesday, November 8, the Alabama Retail Association awarded Planters Hardware & Building Inc. the Alabama Centennial Retailer award.

“For a business to survive the dramatic changes of the past century is a remarkable achievement. It is fitting to celebrate the contributions Planters Hardware & Building Inc. has made to Ashland and the entire Clay County community.”
Rick Brown, president, Alabama Retail Association

Where you can visit in Ashland

Three generations of Bunyan’s have run Planters Hardware, and the business has also had three locations. Their current location is still on the square in downtown Ashland, where all three spots have been over the past 107 years.