If You Want to Know North Wilkesboro, You Should Know the Searcys

Angela and Richard Searcy

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, it feels fitting to turn the binoculars around—to zoom in from the broad story of a nation to the people and places that make up its heart. In North Wilkesboro, few stories embody that spirit more than those found within the walls of Wilkes County Hardware and in the lives of Richard and Angela Searcy.

Wilkes County Hardware has been woven into the fabric of this community for generations. The stories held within its walls are stories of neighbors helping neighbors, advice shared over counters, and lives built one season at a time. From memories of E.E. Eller to tales of chickens, turkeys, and everyday moments that somehow become cherished memories, the hardware store has always been more than a business. It is part of what makes North Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro.

But buildings are only as remarkable as the people who fill them.

When I first met Richard and Angela Searcy, I was struck by something that is increasingly rare: a compassionate heart, a stable joy, and an incredible depth of friendship. There is a sincerity to them that cannot be manufactured. Their kindness is quiet but unwavering, and their commitment to their community extends far beyond the doors of their store.

Richard’s years with Lowe’s and Valspar have given him a wealth of knowledge and a sharp wit that customers and friends have come to appreciate. Angela, having spent years as an educator, possesses a gentle wisdom, a creative spirit, and an ability to encourage others with soft-spoken grace. Together, they have weathered highs and lows, not only persevering through life’s challenges but continuing to bring joy, encouragement, and inspiration to those around them.

It’s difficult to explain Downtown North Wilkesboro without mentioning Wilkes County Hardware. In many ways, if you want to understand the heart of this county, you should spend time with the Searcys. They embody the values that have sustained this community for generations: hard work, generosity, resilience, and genuine care for others.

Today, the rhythms of the business still follow the rhythms of life. Seasonal changes bring seasonal needs—summer pools and gardens, pest management and outdoor projects, winter stoves, pipe insulation, and heaters. Through every season, Wilkes County Hardware continues to serve the community with the same neighborly spirit that has always defined it.

Looking ahead, Richard and Angela hope to see Downtown North Wilkesboro continue to grow and thrive. They hope to welcome new visitors, support new businesses, and see the customer base that has sustained downtown for generations continue to expand. Like so many others who have invested their lives here, they believe deeply in the future of this place. Working downtown is never easy, but one of its greatest strengths is the community itself. We share burdens, celebrate victories, and remain present with one another. It is a place of collaboration, friendship, and growth.

As we celebrate America 250, we celebrate not only a country, but the individuals who make that country what it is. We celebrate states, counties, towns, businesses, friends, and neighbors. And while Richard and Angela Searcy would likely be the first to say they are just one small part of a much bigger story, they have played an outsized role in what so many of us love about Downtown North Wilkesboro.

I stand deeply appreciative of the countless remarkable people who make up this community.

The Searcys are but one small speck in a sea of amazing people, yet to me, they have always been one of the biggest reasons I can answer the question, “Why North Wilkesboro?” Because in a world that changes quickly, places like Wilkes County Hardware—and people like Richard and Angela Searcy—remind us that community still matters. And if these walls could talk, they would tell stories not just about hardware, but about the people who have made this corner of North Carolina feel like home.

Written by: Doren Tripp, Thriving Business Committee Chair