Local Entrepreneurs Open Altwine Hardware & Home in City of Plainview

Jodie and Luke Altwine are passionate about small towns, especially Plainview, Nebraska. Having lived in the community since 2003, Jodie said they were inspired to open Altwine Hardware & Home because they saw a need for residents to be able to purchase hardware and homegoods within Plainview. “Our main goal is to be here and serve the community so people can easily get the things they need.”

Altwine Hardware & Home opened in June of 2023 and sells a wide variety of products ranging from paint to Prairie Girl Candles, Milwaukee tools, shop vacs, grills, wheelbarrows, home decor items and general household products like cleaning supplies and storage containers. Their beautifully renovated store is bright and well organized, making it easy for customers to find what they are looking for.

The Altwine’s represent a new type of entrepreneur - the community entrepreneur that is interested in building a community, in addition to building a business. “I am passionate about small town growth, small town businesses and us all supporting one another,” said Jodie. “Our ultimate goal is to help grow Plainview so all our kids enjoy living here and they have opportunities to come back to after graduating. We are doing our part to help Plainview thrive.” 

And thrive it is. The downtown has been revitalized and entrepreneurs are noticing. In the past five years, 26 new businesses have opened in Plainview, Nebraska. The City has also invested in a $10 million community center and has built new parks. These investments earned Plainview the “Showcase Community of the Year Award.”

Through investment by entrepreneurs like the Altwines, Plainview is poised for continued growth. And Pierce County Nebraska Economic Development, along with the City, is supporting this growth through a combination of business loan and grant programs. The Altwines used one of these loan programs to help complete their purchase of 111 S. Main, the 1,680 square feet of retail space they renovated. “We received one loan for this project which gave us the equity we needed to start the business and renovate the building,” said Jodie. “Having a hardware store in Plainview is exciting and we were pleased to be able to support this project,” said Susan Norris, Executive Director of Pierce County Economic Development.

Since opening, the Altwine’s have hired two additional employees. They told the Plainview News, “Our goal is providing services, merchandise and jobs in Plainview,” said the Altwines. “We have called this town our home for many years and love our small town!  We are excited to bring a hardware store, services and jobs to Plainview.”

Visit Altwine Hardware & Home on Facebook

Learn more about the business loan and grant programs available to help entrepreneurs in Pierce County, Nebraska by contacting Susan Norris, Executive Director of Pierce County Economic Development.