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History of Goodman GlassWelcome to Goodman Glass Company, the oldest glass company on the Peninsula. Founded in 1906, our roots were retail and wholesale hardware, glass, and mirrors. Today, we are a full service glass company with a shop to repair and fabricate residential storm doors and windows, sell and install shower enclosures, replacement windows, and awnings. Our commercial glass division specializes in the installation and repair of storefronts, windows, doors and glass. In 1993, we added an auto glass division. Our company is in the service business. Our goal is to provide prompt, efficient, and courteous service at a fair price. Our company was established in 1906 by C.L. Goodman and has recently celebrated 100 years of continuous service. At that time, Goodman Hardware Co. was located on Jefferson Avenue in Newport News. From 1923 until 1952, the store was under the ownership of R. Winston Harris, nephew of Mr. Goodman. From 1952 until 1980, Philip H. Bray was the owner; he was Mr. Harris’ son-in-law. In 1980, the store was purchased by its present owner, Vince Behm.
Goodman Hardware Company was originally located in the 25th block of Jefferson Ave in Newport News, VA. Goodman’s primary business was general hardware, builder’s hardware, paints, glass and mirrors. In the late 50’s, then owner, Philip Bray, was convinced that Mercury Blvd would become the retail center of the Virginia Peninsula. So in 1960, Goodman Hardware moved to a modern, 12,000 sq. ft. facility located 3401 W. Mercury Blvd. This connector road between Hampton and Newport News was still much undeveloped and Goodman was just the second business to locate there. Today, Goodman Glass Company is only in the glass business and can truly furnish all of your glass needs. Our commercial division specializes new construction and repair of storefronts, windows and doors with 24 hour emergency board up service available. Keeping customers and employees safe at work is a large portion of our business. We work with very specialize glass installations requiring bullet resistant glass used primarily in banks, convenience store and military installations, we also install bomb resistant glass & frames and bomb blast window films to reduce the destruction of possible terrorist attacks. We have installed fire rated glass walls in many modern building in the area. Our residential glass division installs new replacement windows and doors in homes and apartments. Need a broken window or door glass replaced? How about torn of lost screens? No problem, give us a call, quotes are free. Shower enclosures are a specialty of Goodman’s. We can install aluminum framed shower enclosures as well as modern heavy glass enclosures. Screen rooms, three seasons and four seasons’ rooms are no problem, give us a call. We sell and install only quality products with great guarantees. Our auto glass division can replace the windshield or windows in your car or RV. We have in-shop or mobile service and will file all of the paperwork required by your insurance company. If you own a business and need glass replaced in your trucks or heavy equipment, Goodman’s can do it. We pride ourselves on the fact the Goodman has one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings. We accomplish this by using only our employees, no subcontractors, to install the products that we sell. All of our employees must pass criminal background checks and drug & alcohol tests. How many of our competitors can say that! Guaranteed by the most reliable name in Hampton Roads... GOODMAN! |
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Soon after, West Mercury Blvd was bustling with commercial development and was the site for the first Mall on the peninsula, the Coliseum and many shops and retail stores. In 1999, then owner Vince Behm, decided that the growing business needed more room. So he sold the corner location that Goodman had occupied for almost 40 years and moved the commercial, residential and auto glass part of the operation into a 16,000 sq. ft. facility just two doors east of its original location. The retail/wholesale portion move to a 5000 sq. ft. facility on Aberdeen Road. In 2005, this portion of the business was closed, celebrating almost 100 years in the hardware business.