Elwood Adams Store is a historic store

Retailing

Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...

 at 156 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....

. The store claims to be the oldest operating hardware store

Hardware store

Hardware stores, sometimes known as DIY stores, sell household hardware including: fasteners, hand tools, power tools, keys, locks, hinges, chains, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, cleaning products, housewares, tools, utensils, paint, and lawn and garden products directly to consumers for...

 in the United States, having begun business in 1782.

The building that the store resides in was built in 1831 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It is the oldest continuously used commercial block in Worcester. In 1865, the building was increased in height to four stories from its original two and-a-half stories. It is adjacent to the Armsby Block

Armsby Block

The Armsby Block is an historic building at 144-148 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. It currently contains offices for the Worcester County Sheriff's Office and a restaurant at street level. It is adjacent to the historic Elwood Adams Store....

Building.