The Local Hardware Store

[fillister]

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/

 

[willy3486]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Hardware 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.

 

[Chipm]

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]

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.

 

[LopezBart]

Hardware 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]

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.

The General Store Spokane

The General Store is your one-stop shop for everything from Ace Hardware, automotive essentials, fishing and hunting gear, clothing & Carhartt, trading cards, LEGO® and more. All in one place!

generalstorespokane.com

 

[NightSky]

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.

The General Store Spokane

The General Store is your one-stop shop for everything from Ace Hardware, automotive essentials, fishing and hunting gear, clothing & Carhartt, trading cards, LEGO® and more. All in one place!

generalstorespokane.com

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


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

 

[WildBill]

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


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.

Auto Hard Parts

The General Store is your one-stop shop for everything from Ace Hardware, automotive essentials, fishing and hunting gear, clothing & Carhartt, trading cards, LEGO® and more. All in one place!

generalstorespokane.com

 

[Higgy1300]

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!!

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

Yep- McGuckin rules.
I went in with a project needing a bunch of weird stuff. I explained what I was trying to build and the guy walked me all over the store to get everything I needed. Freakin awesome.

 

[caleb383]

Continue reading...

Spot-on description of big-box hardware stores feeling like fluorescent hellscapes staffed by people terrified of questions. Finding a proper local independent hardware store is always a breath of fresh air.

 

[thomfr]

My local (Panningen (Netherlands) is Reijnen. Panningen Now in the 3th generation offering hardware, (power)tools, garden tools, electric supplies and (pedal) bikes including race bikes. The new generation modernized the look outside and inside a bit but they still offer the perfect service and for most products 2 qualities (good quality or professional). Love them and use them whenever possible.
Some impressions from their (lovely slightly outdated ) website:

 

[oldpliers1]

Here in Australia I have a really good old school hardware been operating over 100 years at Paddington, you can buy so much quality stuff including arch hardware and anything the big barn style stores don’t have and excellent service

 

[kaehlin]

Local Ace is pretty great, also because it's very close. There and back home in 10 minutes, makes a huge difference to the flow of a project. They are obviously not so close to everyone, but I am lucky.

 

[WisJim]

When I was a kid in small town southwestern Wisconsin, we had 3 hardware stores that I recall. I haven't been back there much in decades, but I see that the one on the corner nearest to where I lived has moved to a new bigger modern building on the edge of town, along with the car dealerships, and another one had an online auction when they closed up just a couple of years ago. I remember going into the original store and buying a paper bag of blasting powder (sold by the pound) and a foot of dynamite fuse to make "experiments".
Later in life I lived in Stevens Point, WI, where Frank's Hardware was a traditional old-fashioned store but was bought out when the city built a new downtown mall--but Frank's moved to a new building at the edge of town and was better than ever, until the owners retired and closed up a few years ago--no one willing/able to take it over. They sold all the regular stuff, plus Starrett tools, table saws and other shop equipment, crocks and cookware and water pumps and tool parts and almost anything I ever needed. I would keep a list of things to get there after we moved away and only got back to Point once a year.
In the late 70s-early 80s I worked in a lumber yard/hardware store in another small city, and we did a good job taking up the slack after the 2 great old time stores downtown closed up due to owner's retirements.
Locally we have an Ace that is 10 years old or so that does a good job for a new store.

 

[Stuart in MN]

When I was a kid in small town southwestern Wisconsin, we had 3 hardware stores that I recall. I haven't been back there much in decades, but I see that the one on the corner nearest to where I lived has moved to a new bigger modern building on the edge of town, along with the car dealerships, and another one had an online auction when they closed up just a couple of years ago. I remember going into the original store and buying a paper bag of blasting powder (sold by the pound) and a foot of dynamite fuse to make "experiments".
Later in life I lived in Stevens Point, WI, where Frank's Hardware was a traditional old-fashioned store but was bought out when the city built a new downtown mall--but Frank's moved to a new building at the edge of town and was better than ever, until the owners retired and closed up a few years ago--no one willing/able to take it over. They sold all the regular stuff, plus Starrett tools, table saws and other shop equipment, crocks and cookware and water pumps and tool parts and almost anything I ever needed. I would keep a list of things to get there after we moved away and only got back to Point once a year.
In the late 70s-early 80s I worked in a lumber yard/hardware store in another small city, and we did a good job taking up the slack after the 2 great old time stores downtown closed up due to owner's retirements.
Locally we have an Ace that is 10 years old or so that does a good job for a new store.

Sadly, both hardware stores in my little home town are long gone. I remember as a kid going to the Coast to Coast hardware store where they had one of those multi drawer metal cabinets full of bearings, chain master links, and other maintenance bits for bicycles. Since my life revolved around keeping my junky bike on the road, they were a life saver.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Sometimes these ancient hardware stores have things you actually NEED, but no one else has them.... and sadly, when they got bought out, they shitcanned these parts you need to keep your oil fired heater running...

There was one of these in Reno, I was perusing their shelves (ALWAYS fun!!) and I found factory boxed KW trembler coils, a whole section of their shelves.... not only did I need that for our heater ignitor, being a Model T fanatic, I recognized what these were.... I took the one up to the register, the guy said "We haven't sold one of those since 1956", asked him how much, he did a LOT of research and said "Last one we sold was a buck and a half, but, um... How 'bout 2.75?
I bought all 15 of them (the one I needed plus the other 14). He was THRILLED, but not as much as I. My car got a new set, I gave a set to my dad for his car, and used the remaining ones as paperweights.

They still had the Alcohol spirit decals on them. I DID have to unsolder the connector ends off the back contacts, but, well... yeah.

Seriously. Old Hardware Stores and Appliance Repair parts places are gold mines. What I wish I had grabbed as well - dusty, yellowed cardboard wrapped flats of curlicue Nichrome wire... needed that 30 years later for my 1946 stove, when it popped the upper element. I couldn't find it to save my ****.... and I could have had half a mile of the stuff. Damn.

 

[esben57]

Here's the Limey hardware shop.

 

[bwringer]

I live in an outer corner of a large city (Indianapolis) and it's awfully nice to be able to buzz up to the nearest Ace Hardware in the nearest suburb, Zionsville, in about 10-15 minutes without dealing with any city traffic.

It is noticeable that they have a fair portion of floor space devoted to silly revenue-generating knickknacks and impulse buy stuff. You sort of have to wind your way through a maze of yard ornaments, soap, gimmick gifts, BBQ sauce, etc. to get to the checkout. However, if that's what helps them stay in business, more power to them.

One thing I've noticed: the vast majority of machinery in our lives is metric, yet the mechanical/machinery fastener aisles of US hardware stores are still 3/4 full of gleaming rows of untouched inch ****, while the small assortment of metric stuff is perpetually empty and desperately pawed-through. It's been this way for years, and I've never figured it out. You'd think someone somewhere would start to notice that the metric stuff sells out quickly and the inch stuff largely sits untouched, and adjust inventories accordingly. It's like the goal is to run an orderly fastener museum, not a retail establishment.

Obviously, inch is still around. Some US-brand heavy machinery, farm machinery, some parts of Harleys and some lawn mowers, ancient cars, and a few parts of not-so-ancient cars are still inch. And house stuff is all inch. But cars and motorcycles and most other machines have been metric for decades now. It hasn't been exotic "ferrin" stuff since the '70s. Time to catch up with the times, methinks.

In the big box stores the machinery/mechanical fastener situation is even worse. They stock very little in the first place (they're focused on home stuff) but again, the vast majority is inch ****. The metric is mostly missing, jumbled, or just plain stolen; you'd think someone would notice the lopsided demand.

 

[zimman]

Hardware stores and bakeries seem to share the same plane of existence. I'll raise my cup of coffee to them both.

Especially Bakery's. They're to die for. Literally. We only have one here and it's a zoo every day of the week.
Zim

 

[Lassen Forge]

Especially Bakery's. They're to die for. Literally. We only have one here and it's a zoo every day of the week.
Zim

There are local honest to god Bakeries in ALL the towns here, kind of like Butcher SHops, etc... Addictive, they are!
My favorite bakery was in Pskov, in Russia - Wood fired brick ovens, you walk in, they have 3 or 4 windows with ramps feeding them, 3 or 4 different kinds of bread popping up all morning - I was told it was that way since Stalin, and there was ALWAYS a line there. It was a sight to behold, and oh yeah, ever so good.... they also had cakes, pies, etc. in the small counter, but the bread wass the thing...
EVERYONE in town knew about it, tourists from NW Russia would travel there for it.

 

[zimman]

There are local honest to god Bakeries in ALL the towns here, kind of like Butcher SHops, etc... Addictive, they are!
My favorite bakery was in Pskov, in Russia - Wood fired brick ovens, you walk in, they have 3 or 4 windows with ramps feeding them, 3 or 4 different kinds of bread popping up all morning - I was told it was that way since Stalin, and there was ALWAYS a line there. It was a sight to behold, and oh yeah, ever so good.... they also had cakes, pies, etc. in the small counter, but the bread wass the thing...
EVERYONE in town knew about it, tourists from NW Russia would travel there for it.

Oh I know that. I married a girl from Sardinia (ex) while I was stationed there. Every day trips for panini and the local bread was round, thin and had layers. Wonderful. We had a butcher on the other side of the courtyard and we'd send money on the clothesline and they would send meat back. LMAO The giant wine barrels on the wall for house wine. 3 liter basketed bottles. Holy time warp.
It was a good life.
Zim

 

[denis4x4]

Gunnison CO is headquarters for a group of seven ACE hardware stores on the western slope. Kroger's Ace Hardware in Durango is part of the group. Owners have encouraged stores in the group to do their own thing. By the same token, the buying power of seven stores allows them to compete with Lowes and Home Depot on prices.

 

[bassJAM]

My "local" hardware store closed about a decade ago. One with old hardwood floors that creaked when you walked through the store and had that certain smell and was only run by 2 guys; the owner and an old dude in bib's who'd worked there for 25 years. It got bulldozed and the lot is a gas station now.

There's another family owned hardware store in the other direction that I go to sometimes now. They don't have a great selection of normal hardware stuff, but they sell good paint, are a Stihl dealer, have a good selection of machine screws and small hardware parts. More importantly, there's a gun counter in the back!