Do any independent hardware stores still exist? (Home Depot, live)

[Voebe]

Or is it now just Home Depot and Ace, with everyone else driven out of business?

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by Voebe

Or is it now just Home Depot and Ace, with everyone else driven out of business?

Well, technically Ace and True Value stores are independently owned and operated. There is also Do It Best, many of which do not display any corporate branding.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

Well, technically Ace and True Value stores are independently owned and operated. There is also Do It Best, many of which do not display any corporate branding.

Yes, Ace and True Value stores are independently owned. Although there is some company-branded merchandise, the stores all have their distinct personalities and most have their own names (e.g. Barry's Ace Hardware). It's a model similar to Best Western's approach to lodging -- have a national brand serving as an umbrella for a network of individually owned businesses.

I prefer Ace and True Value not only because of the local ownership, but also they're just so much more manageable to shop at than big box stores. I'm not mechanically inclined, so I prefer a focused product selection and attentive customer service. In Home Depot, I wander from aisle to aisle, dodging forklifts as I go, and still have trouble finding anyone to help me.

[hikernut]

Here...

https://www.mcguckin.com/

A bit of a drive, though

[FlurryCat]

My sister-in-law lives about a mile from McGuckin. Awesome store, and we spend a couple hours there whenever we're in town, but I will say that they've drifted away from actual hardware over the years, and you need to run to Home Depot for anything other than the basics.

[DAXhound]

Heldt Lumber is a great business on N 7th St., just north of Camelback.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

Well, technically Ace and True Value stores are independently owned and operated. There is also Do It Best, many of which do not display any corporate branding.

Well, Ace may be independently owned, officially, but you know what I mean. Ace still functions as a chain.

I hadn't heard of Do It Best, but that also seems to be the equivalent of a national chain, best on what I'm seeing online.

Originally Posted by exit2lef

Yes, Ace and True Value stores are independently owned. Although there is some company-branded merchandise, the stores all have their distinct personalities and most have their own names (e.g. Barry's Ace Hardware). It's a model similar to Best Western's approach to lodging -- have a national brand serving as an umbrella for a network of individually owned businesses.

I prefer Ace and True Value not only because of the local ownership, but also they're just so much more manageable to shop at than big box stores. I'm not mechanically inclined, so I prefer a focused product selection and attentive customer service. In Home Depot, I wander from aisle to aisle, dodging forklifts as I go, and still have trouble finding anyone to help me.

I also find that at Paul's Ace, the prices and selection are just about comparable to HD.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by DAXhound

Heldt Lumber is a great business on N 7th St., just north of Camelback.

Thanks. Never heard of it. I'll check it out..

[Pink Jazz]

Note that Ace, True Value, and Do It Best are retailers' cooperatives, which differ from a franchise in that they have a member-elected board of directors, which means their members have more of a say in corporate manners.

[JGMotorsport64]

I have an ACE down the street so I go there if I can and Lowe’s/HD only if I have to. ACE seems to be as close as it gets in most of the valley.