Jon Pollard’s life changed when he and his wife, Jessica, bought Ouray Hardware & Mercantile on May 1.
For 21 years, his career had been in the H&R Block franchise. He said he “wore many hats” during his time in H&R Block, working as a tax professional and a regional operating officer for the company’s operations in Arizona and New Mexico. In this role, he managed day-to-day operations of each office in those states, handled the company’s tax compliance and evaluated financials for the company’s acquisitions team.
In the fall, Pollard began to look for something new.
Although he has never owned a business, he said his previous work in income tax gave him familiarity with the legal requirements for businesses and experience in evaluating business opportunities. He used this knowledge in his search for other opportunities, and then he found Ouray’s hub for everything handy.
Pollard said the hardware store’s previous owners, Brad and Carol Clark, did a wonderful job with the store during their 15 years of owning it. He recognized that the Clarks built a business that specifically suited Ouray, which gave him the confidence to transition to a new career.
Along with passing on a strong business, Pollard said the Clarks and longtime employee Stefan Jenny provided a “really wonderful support system during the transition.”
Pollard brings his experience with doit- yourself home remodeling to Ouray Hardware & Mercantile. The store is “stocked with such a large variety of inventory, and not stuff that just sits there, but stuff that actually has a use,” he said.
“One of the things that attracted me to the business to start with was that Brad and Carol spent years fine-tuning their inventory … to the needs of Ouray,” he said.
Ouray locals and tourists alike rely on the hardware store for day-to-day necessities like measuring tapes, batteries and school supplies, Pollard said.
Customers can also find supplies for any sort of DIY project, he said, from construction and plumbing tools to wall paint. Ouray Hardware & Mercantile carries plumbing tools that fit older homes for residents of Ouray’s historic buildings.
Pollard was born and raised on the Western Slope, and grew up visiting Ouray. He and his family, including their four children, moved to Ouray from Delta this month. During his first two months of owning the store, he commuted from Delta.
Customers can still expect to see familiar faces at the counter, as well as some new ones. The couple and their oldest two children, aged 16 and 18, all pitch in at the store.
Pollard does not anticipate any drastic changes to the store’s inventory or operation in the near future. He plans to approach changes to the store in a thoughtful way after getting to know and understand the store through the seasons, he said.
“I definitely didn’t want to come in and just change everything in here because I think that I know best,” he said. “I definitely want to come at it more humbly than that and really appreciate what Brad and Carol had done over the years.”
Upon moving to Ouray, Pollard said he found it surprising how tight-knit and supportive the community is, especially in his family’s adjustment to their new life and business.
“I hope [Ouray] is able to keep [its unique identity] for years to come,” he said, “and I definitely want to be a part of that.”
