On the Death of Hardware Stores

[Christian Williams]

It seems to be a plot against old-guy retail.

My village hardware store--5 employees, fully stocked--shut its door two moths ago. Nothing has inconvenienced me more.

Fisher Lumber is long gone, all pro sales people vanquished. And this is in Los Angeles.

Home Depot carries on as the all-purpose answer, but as we move to computer searches I find their sku number often inaccurate. Went to two stores claiming to have "9" items of twin-wall polycarbonate sheet in stock, but it was mere clean acrylic. "No you can;t order it, because the computer says we have it in stock, even though we don't, and haven't had it for a year. And no, I can't change that in the system."

Bird seed? Drive seven miles. Stainless staples? That was a misorder by Staples, then a tour of GPS hardware stores in Friday traffic. First stop: A giant Orchard Supply (OSH). Huge banner, Going out of Business. "Sorry sir, almostnothing left."

I suppose we will accommodate to ordering everything on line, cheaper and pretty fast as a matter of fact, and it does keep us out of the traffic.

But what's it all mean, when a community decides only a few eccentrics will fix their own screen door, so why provide retails services for weirdos?

On reflection, I have not heard a 25-year old man say any of this. How they do stuff themselves is beyond me, and I guess the answer is that, they don't.

Culture change.

 

[Rick R.]

It seems to be a plot against old-guy retail.

My village hardware store--5 employees, fully stocked--shut its door two moths ago. Nothing has inconvenienced me more.

Fisher Lumber is long gone, all pro sales people vanquished. And this is in Los Angeles.

Home Depot carries on as the all-purpose answer, but as we move to computer searches I find their sku number often inaccurate. Went to two stores claiming to have "9" items of twin-wall polycarbonate sheet in stock, but it was mere clean acrylic. "No you can;t order it, because the computer says we have it in stock, even though we don't, and haven't had it for a year. And no, I can't change that in the system."

Bird seed? Drive seven miles. Stainless staples? That was a misorder by Staples, then a tour of GPS hardware stores in Friday traffic. First stop: A giant Orchard Supply (OSH). Huge banner, Going out of Business. "Sorry sir, almostnothing left."

I suppose we will accommodate to ordering everything on line, cheaper and pretty fast as a matter of fact, and it does keep us out of the traffic.

But what's it all mean, when a community decides only a few eccentrics will fix their own screen door, so why provide retails services for weirdos?

On reflection, I have not heard a 25-year old man say any of this. How they do stuff themselves is beyond me, and I guess the answer is that, they don't.

Culture change.

Christian, I believe we have firmly succumbed to the dire forecast of not long ago when someone said we would devolve into a disposable society. Hardware stores run contrary to that plan. They allow average Joes (and Joanne’s and even Pats) to find that obscure machine bolt with the right pitch and to repair that old fashioned kitchen faucet. They cut screens, they cut plexiglass (my first job at a hardware store aged 12) they even have a special spray to end the suffering caused by biting flies and no-seeums....

Is there not an Ace Harware on the left coast? We have a bunch of them in the south that are owner-operated and staffed with super eager middle aged men who are ready to help put out the fire cause by the misinformation offered by the pseudo hardware pro from a big box store who last week left a dazzling career as delivery driver.

 

[Christian Williams]

We had Ace franchises all over. Now they're buried next to Crown Books, which itself buried small bookstores. Barnes and Noble, biggest bookstore in Santa Monica, was just interred nearby.

Let's see, this 1 1/2" screw is too long. I'll just order one 1 1/4" screw on Amazon, and it'll be here day after tomorrow.

 

[Rick R.]

We had Ace franchises all over. Now they're buried next to Crown Books, which itself buried small bookstores. Barnes and Noble, biggest bookstore in Santa Monica, was just interred nearby.

Let's see, this 1 1/2" screw is too long. I'll just order one 1 1/4" screw on Amazon, and it'll be here day after tomorrow.

Lol, maybe the pendulum will swing back to the good ole days.

 

[Afrakes]

Been a long time coming

"No, we can't sell you just one of those", they come in packages of three. Getting old, miss the days of loose parts in a bin. Need some nails just weigh out what you need and pay for that. Long gone. Luckily I have a barn full of odd ball "stuff" I picked up over the years. Just today my wife asked me to locate brass brads that I used thirty five years ago to put her art work frames together. Took me about five minutes to find them, but they were there, along with a whole bunch of things that I'd forgotten about. When I pass on this treasure trove will end up in a dumpster. "What the hell did he save this for." I can hear them now. By the way does anyone need a pair of rear shocks for a 73' Ford Econoline van. I had every intension of installing these but the van's motor died. Still got them, and in the original box.

 

[kapnkd]

It seems to be a plot against old-guy retail.

My village hardware store--5 employees, fully stocked--shut its door two moths ago. Nothing has inconvenienced me more.

Fisher Lumber is long gone, all pro sales people vanquished. And this is in Los Angeles.

Home Depot carries on as the all-purpose answer, but as we move to computer searches I find their sku number often inaccurate. Went to two stores claiming to have "9" items of twin-wall polycarbonate sheet in stock, but it was mere clean acrylic. "No you can;t order it, because the computer says we have it in stock, even though we don't, and haven't had it for a year. And no, I can't change that in the system."

Bird seed? Drive seven miles. Stainless staples? That was a misorder by Staples, then a tour of GPS hardware stores in Friday traffic. First stop: A giant Orchard Supply (OSH). Huge banner, Going out of Business. "Sorry sir, almostnothing left."

I suppose we will accommodate to ordering everything on line, cheaper and pretty fast as a matter of fact, and it does keep us out of the traffic.

But what's it all mean, when a community decides only a few eccentrics will fix their own screen door, so why provide retails services for weirdos?

On reflection, I have not heard a 25-year old man say any of this. How they do stuff themselves is beyond me, and I guess the answer is that, they don't.

Culture change.

We're VERY lucky here on Grosse Ile, Michigan (Far North West corner of Lake Erie at the bottom end of the Detroit River.)

Our local hardware store carries a full compliment of everything including boating needs - PLUS - has added a variety of gun offerings/supplies and now a full supply of alcoholic beverages for purchase! ...WHAT A HARDWARE STORE!! ...Only thing missing is the pot bellied stove and some chairs to sit around in on winter days!!

 

[Loren Beach]

Power tools, guns, ammo, and alcohol !
What could possibly go wrong?
:0

Kind of like the New Red Green Show... on steroids....

 

[kapnkd]

Power tools, guns, ammo, and alcohol !
What could possibly go wrong?
:0

Kind of like the New Red Green Show... on steroids....

It’s GREAT Loren! ...A fun store to visit for all your needs or wish lists. Great supply of SS and other marine needs as well or will order what one needs. It’s a family owned old time style mom & pop general store for sure!

Sure beats the bland big box stores by a long shot!

 

[Filkee]

Death of...

Having just clicked and and purchased via your link to glow plugs... But I did buy a bundle of grade stakes and a pair of work gloves from Richmond Home Supply this AM and bought all my pink antifreeze from them (cheaper than West). I always give them first shot even if I suspect they won’t have it. Real hardware stores are an endangered species.

[

 

[Lucky Dog]

Hardware stores, lumber yards and radio shack...Minns books

All gone

I will have add to the list.
Shop classes.

as classically trained shop teacher whose grandfather was a Master Cabinet Maker, now teaching ‘pre engineering’ to city kids who want to lean and are told the trades, working with your hands is not be successful. Schools call it, The college and career counseling cente, as if you can’t go to four college, you can settle for working with your hands...and your brain.

my friends say I have disease....I have fix it, resign it myself. I drives my crazy to pay someone to screw some thing up. When I was 17,long before Utube I paid a old guy with a half smoke cigar in his mouth to fix my VW, that ground metal evertime I put in reverse. He asked two questions. Did you rebuild your engine recently ( because teenagers used to do that) and have your back up lights ever worked? Yes and no, I answered.
”Well son, that extra lead, wasn’t supposed to go the third leg on the started...it goes to your back up lights.

20 dollars well spent.
I’m pulling my A4 this week to rebuild over the winter.

PS Chris, love your second book..bought two for friends.

 

[Gary Holford]

I'm in small town Canada and our local Home Hardware has a nice wide range of goods. If they don't have it they will help you find it. If you had some disaster befall you on a Sunday they would open up the store so you could source repair materials. As an added bonus you can usually help yourself to some freshly baked scones and of course everyone knows your name.

 

[JPS27]

I'm not all that handy and enjoy becoming more so, but yet I find that at home depot and lowes I typically know more than the person I'm asking question to... I have little confidence in those big boxes. Luckily we still have a classic local hardware store with all the attributes you'd expect. And they're my source of independent experts of all sorts when I need a name. When I sail to Cape Charles I always stop in at this gem...Watson's hardware. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/watsons-hardware-cape-charles-2

 

[Teranodon]

I dunno, Christian.

Here on San Juan Island, population 7000, we have two well-stocked hardware stores. A 1-1/2 hour ferry ride gets me to the mainland, where a marvelous place called Tacoma Screw has any conceivable fastener and lots of high-quality hand tools. Home Depot and Harbor Freight are just down the road.

At my marina, just about everyone does their own upgrades and repairs. I would guess that most men on the island are handy, many do car repairs, plumbing, electrical work. A surprising number are fine woodworkers. If you are standing in line at the post office and start a conversation about tools, paints, adhesives, etc., two or three guys will chime in with useful advice.

I have spent most of my life outside the U.S., living in several countries. By far, American men are the most mechanically adept.

These days, it is hard to say anything uncontestably positive about our country. So I just said it.

 

[footrope]

Seattle - Ballard neighborhood. There are a couple good old-style hardware stores, Ballard Hardware and Stone Way Hardware. Stone Way also has a store in Wallingford, not too far from Fisheries. I miss the oldest McLendon's store in Renton. I saw the sign in the picture at Jensen's Boatyard in Friday Harbor this summer. The new owners were very nice and although they couldn't help me that day we had a nice chat and the engine specialist gave us a ride back to the marina. My kind of place.



If you turn 180 degrees there's this:


So, it really is a museum, too!

 

[toddster]

Our only surviving local hardware stores have become Ace franchises. While better than Home Despot (If they carry a cap screw, they also carry the nuts and washers in that size - amazing concept!) they are still pale shadows of their former selves. And going to either of them entails an hour of driving (east or west, flip a coin.)
More and more, I am turning to the internet as the first choice. Although finding the exact thing I need can take as long as driving to town.

Now the local salvage yard is for sale/going out of business. If you had time to kill, that has always been a marvelous place to wander around, scouting for resources. Anything from sheets of stainless steel to 50 lb sacks of peanuts. To the uninitiated, the grounds may look like a bit of an eyesore, but I fear that whatever replaces it will have no soul.

 

[David Grimm]

Sorry to hear that Christian. I know how you feel. William Tell Hardware is the best little hardware store I have ever encountered right in my home town of Hopewell Jct. NY. However it burnt down a few years back and it took them two plus years to reopen. Tough times in deed!

 

[Tin Kicker]

Totally agree.
I used to live in the LAX area in the 70s and 80s and regularly am back to stay with friends in PV, so have seen the disappearance of all the small stores. Plus the quality of the hardware now is not nearly as good as it was. The kicker to me is that Home Depot, Lowes, and all the other big box stores have been largely been built on the thin threads of mountains of credit and cheap Asian supply sources since the last big downturn. Sooner or later there will be a hard down cycle and if they can't borrow money and go under, what'll be left?

Fortunately for our area with Baltimore and Annapolis, there are a lot of independent Ace and other hardware stores. This is also mecca for anything to do with sailing. My favorite is Bacon Sails.