Old School Hardware Store

[JR]

IIRC, Ace is a marketing alliance. The stores are locally owned, but take advantage of national buying power and advertising.

There was a hardware store near me and also near the Borg. After many years of operation Mom and Pop didn't want to go on. The son opted out of corporate life to take it over, and he made a go of it. He competed well with HD and was refining his operation, which was a bit iffy at first. The landlord of the mall where he was located finally forced him out. A major remodel was in the works and he couldn't afford the rent.

I now have to drive 10 miles to find a decent selection of fasteners.

JR

[JoeyGee]

Almost all the old hardware stores near me are gone--victims of the big box stores. For awhile I was convinced Lowes and HD were the place to go, until one day I needed a simple bolt for something. Neither of the big boxes carried them, or even heard of them.

As a last resort I checked a mom and pop hardware store. Not only did they have it, they charged something like $.07 for it. And then I needed a new arbor nut for my BT3. Found a left handed thread, 5/8" nut (IIRC) for next to nothing at the same place.

Cutting glass, replacing screens, general knowlefge and help--there is no replacement for the local stores.

[Pappy]

There was an GOOD Ace about 1/2 block out of the way for my trip home from work. When it shut down it was bought out by an individual. As good as the inventory and service were as an Ace, both improved as an independent. I went by earlier this week and the doors were loked. Hopefully it is a temporary closing.

[3thumbs]

The only thing about hardware that the kids that work in the BORGs near me know is the "hardware" in their faces!

[ironhat]

We lost our OS harware store about 20 years ago! It happened when Lowe's went from the size of an old supermarket to the original size BB store. The OS was everything you folks said. These stores didn't take, "It isn't made and we can't get it", as their lame way out. You take them the original and they would tinker around and build you one out of parts. You might have some work to do on it when you left but it would work.