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fillister

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2013
Messages
47
Location
Phoenix AZ
If your in the Phoenix metro area, Mcfadden Dale industrial hardware is the true hardware store of the old days, fair prices on quality fastener hardware and quality help, plan some extra time to just look around. https://mcfadaz.com/
 
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willy3486

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
1,610
Location
Middle Tennessee
We have quite a few of those types of hardware stores close to me. I was in one last week looking for a nut for a wheel on my dolly. There was one also in the town I live in that got bought out. After it was sold it laid off all the folks who knew about hardware. Then they hired a bunch of younger guys that looked liked they were just out of high school.

I went in one day and I knew I was going to be in trouble there when I heard a couple of them talking about how they were going to leave and make the big bucks somewhere else. When one of the young geniuses came over I asked something like where they had the wingnuts. He looked at me like I was speaking some ancient Tibetan language created by female aliens from some distant planet that were going through some kind of existential crisis. After that I never went back to that one.

In my area they are still around but you do have to look for a good one. Most of the time they are Ace connected stores. That one reason when I set up our shop I made it look like a old store. I really miss the old mom and pop places, there use to be a lot of hardware ,car parts, lumberyards and similar. Sadly most are gone and we are stuck with big box stores that manage to be many times larger and has less of what I really need than the smaller mom and pop stores had.
 

paulsomlo

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2013
Messages
3,969
Location
Northern Colorado
Been a few years since I've been in McGuckin's, but yes, it is all you say it is - not the place to visit on a full paycheck.

By the way, I was in Boulder over Labor Day weekend, had some really good chicken tikka masala at Mt. Everest (if Indian food's your thing); it's off Baseline just west of Foothills.
 

Chaznsc

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
6,565
Location
SC
Jordan Hardware:
i Still remember Mr Jordan. Never in a hurry, and knew everything. Nails by the pound, paint by the gallon, and smiles were guaranteed.
 

Skyman

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2021
Messages
1,303
Location
Central Maryland
There's an Ace franchise about twenty minutes away from me, and it's decent but not great. I'd rate it a 7 on a scale of 10. Of course, that contrasts very favorably with either the orange or blue places, which I detest and try to avoid. But, I really miss the old-school stores such as described above. There used to be so many of them around, and so few remain. The blue and orange have nearly wiped them out.
 

senlow

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Messages
2,285
Location
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
I'm pleased that you have discovered McGuckin. It's one of Boulder's shining stars. I haven't been there for a few years. It's about 35 minutes away from me.
 

Grant Gunderson

Well-known member
Joined
May 17, 2013
Messages
2,355
Location
Bellingham, WA
IMG_0280.jpegHardware sales in Bellingham is the king of independent hardware stores. Walking in there is like walking through the McMaster catalog. Need any bolt thread you an imagine it’s in stock and you can buy it by the piece. They also cater to local loggers and oil refineries so need a 3” spanned wrench or a 5” socket they got it. 4’ monkey wrench yep. 1” wire rope and in house crimping yep. It’s almost 4 city blocks of retail space squared and that not counting their warehouse storage.
The photo above is just one of like 4 hardware isles alone.
 
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Chipm

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
Messages
492
Location
Georgia
McGuckin is now on my list of places to visit. I grew up shopping at the Handy Ace in Tucker, Georgia. It was a great hardware store. Now, there is a pretty good Ace in my area.
 

M.Brane

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Feb 11, 2024
Messages
2,091
Location
1 hr N/W of LA LA Land
We not only have an independent hardware store, but an auto parts/machine shop as well in our little town. They are directly across the street from one another. There is also an Ace franchise that is pretty good too, but it's on the other side of town.

When I lived in the SFV back in the late 80s there was Roscoe Hardware in Sun Valley. That place was huge, and had everything you could possibly imagine possibly more. It is long gone now.
 
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LopezBart

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
2,586
Location
Lopez Island, WA
IMG_0280.jpegHardware sales in Bellingham is the king of independent hardware stores. Walking in there is like walking through the McMaster catalog. Need any bolt thread you an imagine it’s in stock and you can buy it by the piece. They also cater to local loggers and oil refineries so need a 3” spanned wrench or a 5” socket they got it. 4’ monkey wrench yep. 1” wire rope and in house crimping yep. It’s almost 4 city blocks of retail space squared and that not counting their warehouse storage.
The photo above is just one of like 4 hardware isles alone.

This is by far the best physical hardware store I've seen. It's excellent.
 

WildBill

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Aug 20, 2021
Messages
2,088
Location
PNW
I have this place near me in Spokane WA where you can buy anything from a Holley carb to Pokémon cards. Guns, ammo, clothing, lawnmowers, nuts, bolts, copper plumbing parts, car parts including lots of hot rod stuff, pretty much anything. Not as cool of a hardware store as McGuckin, but still pretty neat.

 

NightSky

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 29, 2024
Messages
737
Location
Southwest OH
I have this place near me in Spokane WA where you can buy anything from a Holley carb to Pokémon cards. Guns, ammo, clothing, lawnmowers, nuts, bolts, copper plumbing parts, car parts including lots of hot rod stuff, pretty much anything. Not as cool of a hardware store as McGuckin, but still pretty neat.

Does this piece of their web page tell you everything you need to know about the place?
1789523107271.png

Warren Zevon wrote, "Send Legos, guns and money..." This must be the place.
 

WildBill

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Aug 20, 2021
Messages
2,088
Location
PNW
Does this piece of their web page tell you everything you need to know about the place?
1789523107271.png

Warren Zevon wrote, "Send Legos, guns and money..." This must be the place.
Pretty much, but its missing the crazy speed-shop like auto section, reduced greatly over the last couple years but still haven't seen anything like it since the 80s. First time I walked in the store I saw two guys messing with a 6-71 looking blower sitting on the counter.
 

Higgy1300

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 15, 2021
Messages
156
Location
Florida, Space Coast
my local Ace hardware is awesome, i have been going there over 33 years, George the owner has helped me with project and parts. one time we rebuilt the ice caddy wheels in his back shop. i even met Geoff Bodine there once!!
 
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