Wagner’s Hardware & Gifts celebrates 80 years of serving Cuero, Texas

The Wagner family has been meeting the hardware needs of Cuero and the surrounding communities for 80 years with Wagner’s Hardware & Gifts. Over the decades, they have strived to maintain the historical integrity of their building and store while diversifying their product lines to incorporate the needs of more shoppers and visitors. Reed and Beverly Wagner have helmed the enterprise together since 1989 and have been celebrating 80 in a big way – with an $80 gift voucher giveaway to customers each month. With the holidays approaching, even more surprises are in store.

The beginning of a legacy 

Wagner Hardware was born in 1945 when Walter “Bully” Wagner and his wife Faye “Gram” Wagner purchased an existing business. R.C. Warn launched the original hardware store in the left side of the current building in the late 1800s. The historic building boasts many of its original features, including ironwork from Alamo Iron Works in San Antonio, original shelving, antique scales and counters, breathtaking 12-foot doors, and long-leaf pine flooring.

Other historical artifacts, including empty nail kegs, ammo boxes, and wagon hubs dot the store, adding a bit of old-timey flair alongside modern Stihl saws, Wagner tackles sales, service, parts, and repair for the power equipment, Case knives, galvanized fittings, and PVC.

Beverly said the store is located in the Main Street and historical district, and she served on the Cuero Main Street Board for several years. Maintaining the historical legacy of the building is important to the couple as the business evolves to meet ever-changing customer needs while ensuring everyone who walks through the doors leaves knowing what it was like to visit a classic hardware emporium. 

A shopping destination for all styles 

For 20 years, the Wagners opened the second floor of the store as a unique gift shop featuring home furnishings, antiques, and gifts. The boutique didn’t reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic but its legacy lives on in the diverse product offerings. Beverly said items are sourced from all over the U.S. and the globe,  including Peru, India, Mexico, and Sweden. Local merch is also available, including historic maps and Cuero goods.

“We wanted to be a diversified place to stop, so dad could get what he needed, but Mom could also get the Swedish dish towels and washcloths, everything for the house and jewelry,” Beverly added. “We just got in some Consuela handbags. We have everything that somebody could want.”

Other core offerings include tools, electrical, plumbing, outdoor decor, handmade outdoor furniture, fire pits, Traegar grills, oil cloth, books, cast iron, Rada cutlery, Myra bags, flags, mail wraps, cow hides, and Game Guard shirts.

Beverly said the couple loves the business and are still passionate about it – always looking for new, quality product lines to put in to keep it going. Right now, several deals for new merchandise are in the works, and plans are underway for a fun holiday season.

Drawings for the 80th anniversary $80 shopping vouchers will continue through the end of the year. Any customer who spends $19.45 or more,  in honor of the 1945 launch,  is entered into the giveaway.

Wagner’s Hardware is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

To learn more about Wagners or plan a visit, check out the store’s Facebook page or website.

For more information about local businesses in the GVEC Region, visit the GVEC website.