FROM THE corner of your eye, Mt. Washmore looms — laundry stalled by a dead washing machine. The big box store’s helpline? Forty-five minutes on hold, promising you’re “next.”
It hasn’t always been this way.
Decades ago, washing machines, clothes dryers, and kitchen appliances didn’t last forever, but there’s no denying they lasted longer. It wasn’t an 800 number you called for service; it was the local number of your appliance repair company. In 1974, a new number gave Fayetteville and Lincoln County residents access to service and used appliance sales — Bradford Appliance.
It was the year that Billy Joe Bradford, tired of commuting to Sears in Huntsville, opened Bradford Appliance with his wife, Jane. From a modest block building on Fire Hall Hill, they offered repairs and used appliance sales — a rare local option. Sons Mike and Jeff helped out as teens, then joined full time after layoffs at Jack Daniel’s Distillery in 1984, when the business moved to Lincoln Avenue South and began selling new appliances. From here, the Bradford family continues to serve the community today.
“My mother still comes to work every day and works just as many hours as the rest of us. Since my dad passed away, she has turned the business over to me and my brother,” Mike shared.
It’s been a strong dynamic.
Mike said, “Some families can’t work together, but we hardly ever have a cross word.”
Customers buying appliances today face dizzying selections from showrooms and giant warehouse floors. But Bradford Appliance, with its competitive pricing and local customer service, eases the process and provides the security of someone local to call when problems arise.
“If we just sold appliances, we would probably already be out of business. But we do repair what we sell. These new appliances are not built the way they used to be, and stuff is so complicated.”
With repairs lagging weeks behind, they now focus on servicing the appliances they sell.
“Shopping local is a huge thing. Being local and being connected with the community and the people means a lot,” Mike mentioned. “A lot of the banks in town really push that, and it’s helped us. The Bank of Lincoln County and Charles Gleghorn and Gay Dempsey have been really good about pushing the small businesses, so that helps a whole lot.”
For half a century, Bradford Appliance has weathered change — outlasting sturdy old machines and adapting to today’s more complex models. From Fire Hall Hill to Lincoln Avenue, they’ve grown with Fayetteville, not just selling but fixing what breaks. In a world of warehouse deals and endless hold times, their local roots offer what big stores can’t: a familiar voice, a quick repair, and a family that cares.
Mt. Washmore may rise, but Bradford Appliance answers the call. GN
Shop with Bradford Appliance at 409 Lincoln Ave. S., Fayetteville. For more information, call (931) 433-5869 or visit bradfordappliancetn.com.
