There are certain businesses that become part of the fabric of a town. The places people rely on, where somebody remembers your name, asks how the project is going, and somehow always knows where to find the one part you can't locate yourself.

For Moraga, that place has long been Moraga Hardware & Lumber.

For the Sniders, though, it was never really about hardware.

"It's always been about people," Bill says.

When the Sniders purchased the store in 2000, they knew they were stepping into something that already mattered to the community. The hardware store had been a fixture in Moraga for years, and they felt a responsibility to care for it while finding ways to help it grow. They eventually expanded operations and opened a second location, literally "Across the Way," but the heart of the business stayed the same.

People came to Ace for tools, lumber, paint, and home improvement supplies. Across the Way offered gifts, home goods, and a carefully curated shopping experience. What both stores shared was a commitment to service. Customers knew someone would take the time to help them figure things out.

Over the years, the business became woven into the Sniders' own lives. Their children grew up in Moraga, their days revolved around the community, and the store became an extension of both. Customers became friends. Employees became part of the extended family that naturally forms around a small business after years of shared experiences.

One of the things Bill talks about most is the young people who worked there.

Like many small-town hardware stores, Moraga Hardware gave countless teenagers their first job. Bill saw those opportunities as something bigger than filling shifts.

"We tried to give young people responsibility," he says. "Teach them how to work, show up, deal with customers, and be accountable."

Many of those employees stayed connected long after they left for college or careers. Some stop in years later with families of their own. Others simply come by to say hello.

"There's a lot of pride in watching kids grow up and do well," Bill says.

That sense of connection became part of the store's culture. Employees were encouraged to get to know customers and take ownership of helping them. The goal wasn't simply to make a sale. It was to solve a problem, build trust, and make people feel welcome when they walked through the door.

Like every independent retailer, Moraga Hardware had to adapt as larger competitors entered the market and changed the way people shopped. Bill remembers the pressure those changes created for small businesses. But rather than trying to compete on size, the store leaned into what made it different.

Customers knew they could walk in with a question and find someone who cared enough to help answer it.

That experience was shaped in part by General Manager, Susan Marconi, who has helped guide the business for more than two decades. Her background spans retail, merchandising, home décor, and wholesale sales, and she brought a thoughtful eye to everything from product selection to store presentation.

"Creating a shop that people enjoy being in has always been important to me," she says. "The music and the scent help create a space where people can be inspired as they wander through."

Marconi regularly attends trade shows, works directly with vendors, and keeps up with new products and trends. She is also quick to credit local tradespeople who generously share their knowledge with the staff. Together, those efforts helped create a store that felt welcoming, knowledgeable, and distinctly local.

Supporting the community was simply part of doing business.

Over the years, Moraga Hardware contributed to schools, sports teams, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout the area. Bill never viewed that involvement as marketing.

"You have to support the community that supports you," he says.

As he reflects on the years behind the counter, Bill talks less about growth or sales and more about people. The employees who built careers after starting at the store, the customers who stopped in every week for decades, and the friendships formed one conversation at a time.

For many residents, Moraga Hardware became more than a place to shop. It became a staple of the community and a small but meaningful part of everyday life.

That's what brings Bill the most pride.