Since 1943 Hardester's Markets and Hardware has been in the grocery and hardware business serving the southern Lake County area. Hardester's was originally known as "The Corner Store," and was located at the corner of Calistoga Rd and Main St. in Middletown. Later, the Middletown store*, moved to its present location in Middletown (1960), and two more locations were added, Cobb (1986) , and Hidden Valley (1993). 

On Memorial Day 2018 the Middletown store was destroyed by a fire. The " New " Middletown store reopened in the same location in April 2020.

For over 75 years Hardester's has been an active partner in the community, lending support to a variety of community events, organizations, and projects."