FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A local hardware shop is celebrating a major milestone as a Valley institution for generations of customers.
In this week’s edition of Amazing America, FOX26 News Reporter Alexis Govea takes us inside Fresno Ag Hardware, where service, history, and the American dream are all part of the legacy.
For 150 years, Fresno Ag Hardware has been helping Central Valley residents tackle projects big and small. From paint and plumbing supplies to barbecues, power tools, and hard-to-find parts, the store has become a trusted resource for the community.
But Chief Operating Officer Ian Williams says the real story is about family and service—values that have helped the business endure for generations.
“The most important thing, the reason why people shop with us, is our customer service,” said Williams.
Fresno Ag COO Ian Williams says the real story is about family and service—values that have helped the business endure for generations. (FOX26)
The business traces its roots back to the 1800s, when Scottish immigrant James Porteous came to Fresno and founded Fresno Agricultural Works.
“One of the most iconic people to come out of Fresno,” said Williams. “He came here with really just the American dream and started out working as a blacksmith at the shop down off the Fulton Mall. Believe it or not, he ended up buying that shop from his boss.”
Decades later, the business became part of another family: the Williams family.
Williams says his grandfather came to Fresno from Italy as a child and later served in World War II. When he returned home, he found a job as a custodian at the original Fresno Agricultural Works.
“From there, he worked his way up. The people who owned the business loved him so much they said, ‘John, why don’t you buy this part of the business from us?’ He didn’t really have a whole lot back then, so as the story goes, it was a dollar down and a firm handshake, said Williams. “It’s all about the American dream—what you can accomplish here in America if you work hard, you’re honest, you’re innovative, and you serve the public.”
Williams says both Porteous and his grandfather arrived with humble beginnings, creating a legacy that continues to serve the Valley today.
Over the years, Fresno Ag Hardware has survived many hardships, including the pandemic, while remaining focused on helping customers maintain their homes and businesses.
That commitment has earned loyal customers across multiple generations.
“People come in here and smell the popcorn and say, ‘Oh my God, I just got taken back to when I was shopping in here with my grandpa or my dad,'” said Williams.
For Williams, that connection is what makes this anniversary bigger than a business milestone.
It’s a reminder that some local places become part of a city’s identity.