Submitted by Carolyn Mansfield
(June 22, 2023) — Thanks to the support of the staff, the Cost families and their 11,000 patrons, Killingworth True Value has been serving the Connecticut Shoreline and Middlesex County community since July 1983. In 1983 Tom Cost, Sr. and his wife Jackie purchased Killingworth Village Hardware, originally located in the Killingworth Village Shopping Center. They dropped Village from the name and added the trademark True Value shortly thereafter.
Tom Sr. kept his full-time job in the finance industry and Jackie took on the role of store manager. Due to the size of only 1,500 square feet, the store never became profitable enough for Tom Sr. to join full time. He focused his effort behind the scenes with the business finances and helped out on the weekends. Jackie’s hard work learning the retail hardware trade kept the store afloat.
Tom Jr. joined the store full-time after completing his business and marketing degree from the University of Maine in 1992. The store moved down the road in 1992 to 152 Route 81 into a new 5,000 square foot building. The new location allowed the Costs to expand inventory, add a small power equipment department and a service department. The business continued to grow, and another addition was added in 1996, bringing the square footage to 10,000 square feet.
The building at 152 was bursting at the seams. There wasn’t enough space for storage of equipment or inventory; so, in the spring 2008, the Costs made the decision to build a new store near the Route 80/81 circle in Killingworth. The construction on the new store began right before the financial fallout of 2008 and it was a very nerve-wracking time. When the doors opened at 228 Route 81 to a new 16,000 square foot in May of 2009 and so many of the regulars and new customers came in, it was a thankful/proud moment for the Cost family and their employees. They were able to grow and expand because of the patronage of all of the communities in the surrounding area.
October of 2021 was an immensely difficult time for the Cost Family and employees as Tom Sr. passed away after a brief illness. They were overwhelmed with the generous and kind words from so many patrons. It brought to light the strength of the community.
Killingworth True Value will be having a 40th anniversary celebration from June 29 to July 2, 2023, with vendors demonstrations, activities, giveaways and promotions. They hope to see many of you there!
