OXFORD – In hopes of keeping the doors open on a staple storefront in downtown Oxford, the new owners of Canal Street Hardware are getting the word out that they’ve taken over the business and aim to keep it open.

New owners Jan Ireland and Rick Warner officially took reins of the business last week. As semi-retired dairy farmers, they know some of the ropes of business ownership, said Ireland, but there’s plenty of room to learn more.

“This has definitely been a learning experience for us ... A lot of little local businesses have been very supportive of us, and a lot of the community have been a big help too,” Ireland said. “People are tickled pink that this business is still open and they’ve been very accommodating of us as we learn.”

Ireland and Warner made a decision to buy the business upon the retirement of former business owner Ken Ryan, who kept the shelves of the hardware store stocked for more than 30 years.