Real Hardware store - Florence, SC

[doan]

I travel around the country every week for work. When I have down-time, I like to go find "real" hardware stores. Today I found the Carolina Supply House in Florence, SC. According to the salesman I talked to, this place is 5th generation family owned. This was the 1st store I've been in that had Proto tools hanging on the wall, along with USA made Blackhawk and SK. The tool wall was amazing, I should have taken pics. They had single Proto wrenches up to about 2" (for about $200 each). He said a lot of those had been hanging on the wall for years.

https://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/419579_10150599638704822_362231106_n.jpg

I found this NOS Elkind Metric allen wrench set - 0.7 to 17 mm. The date on the sticker is 1996, and the store price tag says 5/8/2001. They keep a lot of stuff like this behind glass, everything is clean. I always enjoy finding NOS USA tools. I bought this one to go with my vintage Allen brand SAE set. The metal case is exactly the same except green.

 

[Gotmayhem]

Take some more pics if you go back! It's nice to see family owned stores still going.

 

[5lima30]

Another good one similar to that is the Ace Hardware in Hiawassee, GA. Family owned, very large, has alot of hard to find stuff. I buy my made in USA horseshoes there by the pound.

 

[Steroblan]

Collier Hardware in Chico, Calif. since 1871. Three stories of evreything you can't think of. They have new to obsolete or hard to find. http://www.collierhardware.com/

 

[strutaeng]

Turner Hardware in Carrollton, Texas is just like what you described. Man, that place puts a smile on my face every time!

Really puts to shame the ****** "hardware" aisle at the big box stores!

 

[SCscoutguy]

I have been shopping there my entire life. They are generally much more expensive than the other small time hardware stores we have in the area but they normally are the ones when you need something they always have it in stock.

 

[doan]

Turner Hardware in Carrollton, Texas is just like what you described. Man, that place puts a smile on my face every time!

Really puts to shame the ****** "hardware" aisle at the big box stores!

Thanks! I'm in Frisco, I will check out Turner Hardware.

 

[carcajou]

Doan You just made my day!! I have been searching high and low for NOS Proto wrenches to complete several sets i have. I gave them a call and bought 19 from them. Only ten more to go! Life is gooood!

 

[atwageman]

I live in Charlotte. Florence is not that far for me. I go there on business from time to time. I will definitely stop there.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I am lucky to still have quite a few GOOD old-time hardware stores around me in Cleveland and the suburbs. I try to frequent them as much as possible!

 

[rallenc]

My in-laws lived about 3 blocks from Carolina Supply in Florence. Always enjoyed visiting Carolina Supply with my father in law when the wife and I went to visit. Good memories.

A beautiful place, clean, well lit, great selection and well organized.

Miss those trips.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Doan You just made my day!! I have been searching high and low for NOS Proto wrenches to complete several sets i have. I gave them a call and bought 19 from them. Only ten more to go! Life is gooood!

I hope you get what you want but the vast majority of what they have up on the wall is not NOS stuff it is new say within the last 5 years. They might have a NOS piece here and there but are pretty much current on their stock on tools and they have a big turn around on their stock as well because they supply most of the major industrial plants and mills around here. This isn't some old mom and pops operation it is a nice modern facility with lots of new stock and everything is priced to reflect its current value. You are not going to walk in and find some Proto wrench from 1960 for $3.50 in Carolina Hardware. That said they are a family owned store and every person that works there is extremely nice and very knowledgeable about the product that they sell.
This is their website if anyone wants to look and see what they carry.
http://www.thesupplyhouse.com/

 

[dede2897234]

I am lucky to still have quite a few GOOD old-time hardware stores around me in Cleveland and the suburbs. I try to frequent them as much as possible!

Jeff,

Can you please list the names and locations of the old-time Cleveland hardware stores you frequent?

I've never been inside one. I am a big fan of purchasing NOS tools at decent prices!


Thanks,

Dave

 

[Responder]

Ya, I miss the old days with the creaking hardwood floor with the oil finish and you could buy anything you wanted in any quantity.

But alas, we now have HD an LOWES and FASTENALL and when I go there, nobody seems to know what the he!! I am talking about.

Come to think of it, my wife never knows what I am talking about either!

 

[jeffmoss26]

dede, off the top of my head...
Chagrin Falls Hardware (OLD STORE!!) Chagrin Falls
Cedar Center Hardware, South Euclid
Dunn Hardware, Richmond Hts.
Maple Hts. Hardware
Oakwood Village Hardware
Rudy's Hardware, Cleveland (this one is 10 mins from my office)
Sutton Hardware, Cleveland (downtown)
South Euclid Hardware
Joughin Hardware, Painesville

 

[NOZZLEMAN]

What a great place !!

Let's support the local family owned stores !!!

 

[jmm]

Could we make this thread a sticky? With names of the business and the town they're in?

What do you say?

Here's mine: Howe Distributing, Gastonia, NC
Industrial supply house in disrepair, packed to the gills with NOS American-made handtools (Armstrong, Allen, Williams, Easco, etc) other industrial wares. Very good prices. They keep funny hours but the place is definitely worth checking out. You'll be glad you did.

 

[warmpancakes]

theres one in brighton Mi Rolisons hardware since 1914 not as cool as it used to be but still neat

http://brighton.patch.com/listings/rolison-pro-hardware

 

[Taylor J.]

theres one in brighton Mi Rolisons hardware since 1914 not as cool as it used to be but still neat

http://brighton.patch.com/listings/rolison-pro-hardware

Cool, I'll have to check that out next time I'm in that area.

Oh and Roll Tide

 

[warmpancakes]

if you are in the area let me know Im one left turn and 4 stop signs away

RTR

 

[iajonesy]

I live in a small town in eastern Iowa and the town a mile away has a great Ace Hardware Store. The town has less than 3000 people and the store is huge. They carry all the normal Ace stuff but also have the largest selection of fasteners I've ever seen. They are 20 miles from the nearest big box stores (Menards,Lowes,Home Depot,and others) so they offer many of the same items as the big guys for just a few cents more without the drive,have terrific help,and will offer refunds on anything. The 2 families that own the store are in the second generation now and all the kids are very handy and give solid advice on anything you might have problems with. Mt. Vernon Ace Hardware is the best small town hardware store I've found lately.

Mike

 

[Umclemrbig]

Know it well-I grew up in Dillon, about 25 minutes away. If you have ever traveled I-95, the tourist trap South of the Border is there.