Six decades ago Ken McQuestion, wearing his customary bow tie, set up shop on Northwest 23rd Place. His original Uptown Hardware store was small — narrow and long, in step with the norm of the times — and thrived for more than five decades, finally shuttering for good in 2006. Meanwhile, Uptown Hardware Inc. continues to flourish, bucking a national trend. “There have been a lot of changes,” said Duane Cook, McQuestion’s son-in-law who, along with wife Sherry, has helped run the company since 1967, assuming full ownership in 1982. “It’s just amazing.” The original Uptown Hardware opened its doors in 1950, occupying a 4,000-square-foot space at 27 N.W. 23rd Place. The company subsequently opened two more stores, acquiring Woodstock ACE Hardware in 1998 and opening Pearl ACE Hardware in 2003.