For the last 30 years, Bob and Patti Brame have — quite literally — watched their family grow inside, and out, of Cadiz Hardware, building their local business from the bottom up on the corner of Main Street and Lakota Drive.
It has been their blood. It has been their sweat. It has been their tears.
The first week of March, however, it no longer will be.
Set for a deserved retirement, and other personal pursuits, the Brames have sold their store to Houchens Food Group of Bowling Green — an ESOP-based company with more than 90 ACE locations in their portfolio.
Bob turns 76 this week, and rather frankly, he said it was time for he and Patti to “back off” and let someone else take steps into the future. The two have been estate planning, thinking of familial perpetuity, and at first, none of this was for sale.
Houchens, however, was one of four companies over the last few weeks inquiring within about procuring their position in Trigg County, and Bob said it was “too hard to pass” once Houchens leadership paid a visit to the location.
According to the Brames, very little will change in day-to-day operations. There will be a slight name alteration to “Cadiz Ace Hardware,” and current employees — including the shop cat — will remain, with new opportunities possible.
Meanwhile, the Brames will continue living in Trigg County, and further retain this real estate through their lease to Houchens.
It’s still going to be one of Trigg County’s “mom-and-pop” stores, capable of meeting various farm and family needs.
In the early 1990’s, the Brames traveled all over the world selling livestock equipment in 47 states and several foreign countries. After selling that outfit, The Farm Store, to Farmer Boy AG, they explored a number of opportunities — including Dairy Queen — Bob said he signed a deal for Trigg Supply before it fell through in the final hours.
It is then, he admits, that the constant desire to have his own hardware store took over — and thus began this pursuit.
Patti, meanwhile, has been patiently, and happily, waiting — retired nearly a decade and looking so forward to this moment.
Like any business, the Brames said there have been noticeable ups and downs: the closure of Johnson Controls being most difficult, their daughters and grandchildren in house the most rewarding.
This past Sunday, the family got together for photos, and in the coming days, Bob said frequent customers will be receiving a detailed letter from both he and Houchens Food Group — explaining the transition and what’s next.
Recent “Best Hardware” winners in Edge Media Group’s “The Best of West Kentucky” 2025 campaign, one can also visit their website, cadizhardware.com, for orders and more information.
