My favorite little hardware store is calling it quits.
 

They are called "Trader Horn", dumpy dirty little stores that have been around the area forever. You all know the type, they have that vct tile flooring from the 70's on the floor, and that funny old smell . They do, however have everything one could ever need, and the guys who work there, actually know something about hardware . There is one about 2 miles from my shop, and I am in there nearly daily for grinding wheels, welding supplies, tools, food , paint , ammo, exhaust adapters, light bulbs, etc... I hate the big box stores, and now they will be my only recourse .
The modern world sucks it.

I feel for you. Those places are like gold when you need that certain something that no one else has.

food?

i found a japanese hardware store..it was nirvana. i was telling a salesperson, i was so happy to find it and was deeming it my store for all things that "cut". the guy without looking up, said.."we were bought out. the store is closing".

NOO! i did make it to the closing sale and bought a bunch of cool stuff 40% off, but it hurt to see the door shut after i just friggen found the place. man, they had some excellent vice tables..i might be calling it the wrong thing. but the entire table surface was a vice. old, cool, wood..wow. still expenisive and bulky for my tiny home.

I feel your pain... we had a Ace Hardware that had an old guy (I think he was a retired plumber) who knew how to fix anything. The kind of guy you would bring stuff to and he would tell you "all you need is a washer" and march you over to the wall and pull the part off the rack for you.

It re-opened as a new Ace hardware... nice guy but really doesn't know his stuff (no better than me).

We also have a old True Value... the kind that has to old circular metal bins where you scoop out nails and weigh them... but it was taken over by the sons... place is half empty inventory wise.

Sad state of affairs. All small businesses are dying and being replaced by big box stores. There used to be a small hardware store across the street from a property I owned in the '80s. You could get all kinds of things there including guns (I bought a couple there), glass cut to order, screens replaced, and lots of other things. One large, old hardware store that had been down town since the 1800's and had everything in the world, vacated and moved to a commercial area. Now they concentrate on selling very upscale door & cabinet fixtures, and custom doors - all very nice and expensive. Maybe we'll end up having to buy items on the internet if a big box isn't convenient.

YUP !
We all buy way too much from china and think it will have no consequence.
I quit years ago, I am a one man crusade.

I am lucky enough to still have two close by. The big box stores have their value, but for personal help, or just to run someplace quick to get something, I always use the small ones.

We have a local hardware store that almost went under when HD came to town. They toughed it out (with local support) and is still in business. And yes indeed they have EVERYTHING. You can even buy 1 screw if thats all you need. You can even rent a tool if needed.

When I lived in Glenview Ill. as a youngster, we had Rugens. A small group of stores connected inside. If there was a day I could re live, it would be a few hours in this store. Everything you ever wanted, old wood creeky floors and all, great people each time, even for a kid.

Newhall Hardware was around for about 100 years. They closed a few years ago, guns, anvils, saddles, everything. I went to HD for a woodruff key after they closed, and I was directed to the key cutting kiosk.

Geez Hugh, I still have the Starret Machinists straight edges from them. Brand new ones from like 1949 or so. Talk about new old stock!

I could not believe they closed.

We have Fulkerson Hardware over here in Somis. Love that place. It is old, very old and still family owned. If you go there you will remember the great Newhall Hardware.

Here is a link to their history!

A Store of History in Somis : Hardware Stock Includes Common Nails, Common Sense - latimes

I don't shop at walmart, the last true thing I can vote with is my wallet.


I love my coast to coast, Ace hardware. they have 4 people per aisle almost ready to give CUSTOMER service.


a lost art. but I try to buy local every chance I get. I'll pay 25 cents more per item to not waste my time in a super box 1/4 mile wide Walmart or other big box

Newhall Hardware .... bought a short barrel 12 gauge Mossberg shotgun many moons ago. Two people couldn't pass each other in the narrow aisles.....

Classic old school hardware store. Was sad when it closed.

Around here is one of those stores that is doing quite well. They only sell high end tools and engineering quality nuts and bolts. No power tools. And make their money by mixing and selling car paint.

My go to hardware store, Burg hardware store closed its door about two years. Like your up there, in Newhall, its gone. Good thing was, if they can't get it they will order it for you. There were 4 guys behind the counter selling just hardware. They had hardware for everything and i you need only one, you got it. What made it nice was that they put it in a little paper bag just like when I remembered it as a kid. No stupid plastic bag like they have at Home Depot. Many of the smaller mom and pop's hardware store stopped carrying lots of off the wall stuff.

We had two here fairly close to the center of the city for the longest time and a few years ago, they consolidated and moved a few blocks further from downtown... down near the railroad tracks. It was great and it was huge. I would go there instead of the big box stores and they always had what I needed.

Then it closed. There is still a smaller one about 6 miles from the house. It is good and has those grey bins with nails, etc. but it pales in comparison.

Fred, go in there some bright sunny day and shoot a few photos. You'll be glad you did.

You should also try to find out where the inventory is going... maybe it'll still be within a reasonable distance.

They didn't change with times. One ACE hardware by me has done so, and is crowded every saturday & sunday. 3 other 'Aces' are gone. Another 'Mill Supply' used to just sell bits, powertools & endmills, now they change to the market.... outdoor tools, sheds, hard to find hardware & safety supplies.

Bins O nails? Hell, I'm a builder and recently brought 2-300# of common nails to recycling. Everyone screws & uses pneumatic nailers now.

All the big stores are here but I always shop at the locally owned True Value.

The floor guys and gals are terrific and they have tailored their inventory to the local market - lots of ag stuff and unique hardware.

We have a True Value here in town and I am there often, but they are 40%-60% more expensive than Home Depot, which is an hour drive away. I buy mostly nickel dime stuff from them, or things I need in a hurry for a project. The rest I buy online from Amazon after doing my research.

The hardware store I miss the most closed 30 years ago. They always had a group of old grey hair customers sitting around drinking the coffee and telling stories. Any project you could dream up one of the employees or one of the customers was there to give great advise. I just wish I could have access to the brain trust of those old timers. I bet an iPhone would stump them all, but any project that was built with your hands was a piece of cake.

We still have a few old tymie hardware stores around. I usually go there first to find parts and only hit the big box after exhausting my search at the local place. Local hardware stores are a treasured resource for fixit guys like me that always seem to need a non-standard solution.