A Mathews County landmark is changing hands.

Moughons hardware store in Mathews will see new ownership after the first of the year. Mark and Jo-Ann Letchworth of Hudgins are purchasing the store from Allen and Elma Moughon, who have owned it since 1972.

Mark Letchworth has been the manager and executive chef at the Mathews Yacht Club for the past seven years, while his wife has been the front-end manager. They said New Year’s Eve will be their last day at the yacht club, and they will be at Moughons starting on Jan. 2.

The move is a return to a career path closer to the one the Letchworths were on before the economic downturn in 2009. Mark, who has an master’s in business administration from the College of William and Mary, was the regional operations director for the Bennette Paint Store chain until 2003, when he became a Class A contractor. Then, operating as Colonial Homes, he began building houses in the Baywalk Retirement Community in Middlesex. It was a family busi...