That old tool store down the road...

[bonneyman]

The last local mom and pop hardware store (i.e. a BIMSCO hardware) closed late last year, and I went in and dropped $200 grabbing nit-noid stuff. Taps and dies, metric and standard, to fill my sets up. Several sizes of bolts and nuts, carbon brushes for electric motors, faucet rebuild kits and sliding door hardware. Also grabbed windshield washer concentrate, solvents, shop rags, machine parts, anything I could think of that I'd use up.
But their tool section wasn't ANYTHING like your store! That place exudes

 

[jeffmoss26]

What is BIMSCO?

 

[bonneyman]

What is BIMSCO?

Bimsco Hardware is a store chain out of Wisconsin, I think. (Maybe some of our members there can chime in?) Some of the family moved to Arizona from there in the early 60's, and opened up some outlets here. But last year the economy had taken its toll, and, being they were getting on in years, decided to move back to the home turf.

 

[MikeF2316]

As I said, a LOT more pictures:

There ya go! I bought the pliers for whoever posted earlier
(can't remember usernames worth a can of beans), and the Vaco drivers are mine. Pricey stuff.. but very nice indeed.

I have that exact 80 watt soldering iron, had it for years!

Those key fobs kill me! I guess they never got around to reordering the Maverick ones

 

[7th Kahuna]

I remember those lever grips between the time I was 3 to 7 years. Born in 1982. Now I know what these vise grips were called! I really want one for myself. Really was going to post and describe trying to figure out what these were!!!

I don't remember. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen them before today. Just happens, about 12 hours ago I found one buried in a drawer in my late grandfather's garage. Thought I was grabbing for a standard pair of vise grips. Tonight I stumbled upon this here. Unique tool. Wasn't sure if it actually works. Apparently it does.

I sure wish I could find an old store around here.

 

[Super Scout]

This store is going into liquidation. Owner is retiring. If you wanted to check it out now is the time.
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/longtime-latrobe-hardware-store-to-close-as-owner-retires/

 

[yrly]

This reminds me of one here that’s a survivor I posted about a week or two ago asking what stuff from the late 70s-80s was worth getting.

 

[eschoendorff]

Wow just read this entire thread. So freakin cool!

 

[driftpin]

Mcdonald's Hardware http://www.mcdonaldhardware.com/ just-outside one of the largest, busiest ports on the East Coast (Port Everglades/Ft. Lauderdale FL), they sell a lot of quality hardware, tools, and stuff you might find hard to locate except online. Not a big building, and crammed floor-to-ceiling with quality merchandise.

Boat Owner Warehouse and West Marine are close-by, as is The Sailorman, which has a rich stock of stuff for marine uses, much is 'veteran.' Or used... https://www.sailorman.com/

Another place close-by is All-American Tool, they sell a lot of stuff in quality hand and floor tools and consumables. http://allamericantool.toolsummit.com/

All of these are probably < 4 minutes from one-another.

A short hop down I-595 to the Town of Davie will bring you to International Tool, which carries Jet, Grizzly, and many power hand tools, like Metabo, Milwaukee (largest wall display I've ever-seen), Porter-Cable, DeWalt, Bosch, Hitachi, and Skil. https://www.internationaltool.com/shop/ I've shopped at this store or the store of one of their predecessors (Wild Electric, owned by Louie Wild, in Hollywood FL) for 40 years.

If you're anywhere in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach Counties (FL) and you haven't been to these closely-located tool havens, you need to make a day of it to familiarize-yourself with their inventories.

 

[mikebaker1129]

I just read the whole thread and was totally sucked in!
I would love to find a place like this somewhere.
Tons of cool stuff you just do not see!

It is sad to here that it is going to liquidation.

 

[Robinson1]

Reminds me alot of a local Southern States feed store. He moves hay and feed by the truck loads. The hardware store side hasn't been touched for the most part in 25+ years. He doesn't even bother restocking things anymore. Prices high as hell too. Still has SK Wayne open stock sockets on the wall.

 

[Snap_cap]

This store is going into liquidation. Owner is retiring. If you wanted to check it out now is the time.
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/longtime-latrobe-hardware-store-to-close-as-owner-retires/

I really need to make a road trip out there.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

This store is going into liquidation. Owner is retiring. If you wanted to check it out now is the time.
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/longtime-latrobe-hardware-store-to-close-as-owner-retires/

Petrosky’s Hardware was the OP’s focus. This hardware will have been in business for nearly 100 years. But the big chains and EBay/Amazon with on line purchases have eroded stores sales for these smaller operations. Kind of sad but inevitable all the same.

 

[Fialaja]

Has anyone been there during the closing sale

 

[Super Scout]

Just an FYI the remaining items are going to an online auction if you're local.
https://reedsauctionco.hibid.com/ca...ation-auction-petroskys-hardware-latrobe--pa/

 

[Trucky]

Thank you for posting! I'm sad to see it go. I will definitely be checking out the auction!

For the people who may not have seen the photos before, I will try to pull them out and re-host them on Google Drive so you can view them. Probably won't get to it for a day or two but I'll edit the post when I've completed it. I'm 90% sure I still have them stored locally, anyways.

 

[Steve_P]

Wow, a blast from the past. I got a few things from there via Trucky (thanks!) when this thread started. The main thing I wanted was a General brand reamer with the screwdriver type handle. Stupid, but it was for sentimental reasons as I have one from dad, and....

 

[bonneyman]

Came across another local hardware store on the far side of town, and he is looking to retire. When you walk in the front door and turn around, he has this phenomenal display of old and vintage tools hanging over the front door. He allowed me to take a few pics.