LUCERNE, Calif. – Severe health issues are forcing well-known Lucerne resident and businessman George Conover to close the Lucerne PROmart hardware store.

People who have been in Lucerne for any length of time have likely made Conover's acquaintance, and discovered him to be an invaluable resource for home repair and improvement projects, or just for a pleasant conversation.

Conover is currently resting at home with a friend. A visit this week found his sharp sense of humor was on display.

Helpful professionalism and affable style made Conover and PROmart welcome community fixtures. Conover had been planning to rebrand the store as Lucerne Hardware this month and had designed a logo reminiscent of the Alps for a grand reopening.

Conover also had been at work rearranging the interior of the store to eliminate clutter and improve the flow for the new store.

This writer spent copious hours consulting Conover on various home projects, and just hanging around enjoying his company and conversation over the last decade. When in need of some tool or part, instead of , “Off to the store,” it was, “Going to visit George.”

Friends of Conover confirmed that the master plumber turned businessman had been quietly practicing charitable house calls. Conover also is a skilled computer programmer and had created from scratch his own unique point of sale system that he continually improved.

In an effort to raise money and help provide for Conover's needs, friends and family will open the store, located at 6020 Highway 20 at Second Avenue in Lucerne, for the next three weekends to liquidate the inventory at or below wholesale cost.

The store is stocked with many useful tools and supplies for chores from painting to plumbing and electric, as well as tools to help keep your home in order. Everything will be sold over the coming weekends.

PROmart is scheduled to be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, through Sunday, Sept. 9; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, through Sunday, Sept. 16.

Email John Jensen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .