We have a great ACE hardware in town, and a terrific lumber yard about five
miles from town. The folks are local and speak English. I can always get
help and I'm never embarassed to talk about my screwy ideas. It's a genuine
pleasure to go to these stores, and I go several times a week. By
patronizing these stores, I help the local economy and help employ
neighbors. The only big box store in town is Walmart (can't avoid them).
The nearest Lowes and Home Depot are about 20 miles away. I shop there
occasionally, when I need something quick and it's not in stock locally.

Considering how much money I blow in restaurants and bars, it doesn't make
sense to drive 20 miles to save a few bucks.

WJS


"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Mar 2, 12:16 am, Patriarch wrote:
charlieb wrote
:





Patriarch wrote:

I don't know, Brian. We have a bunch of them. Most of them are run
by folks that have been in the business for a long time. We went to
a community dinner the other evening, and I was reminded of another
place I used to go a lot, and still do, three or four times a year
for certain stuff. They've been around since the 50's. 4 stores,
Ace Hardware franchise. They were sponsoring the local swim team.
Their buildings aren't falling down, but then, this is California,
and the prices are really high for real estate, so no one really
treats them like junk.

snip

Glad we have hardware stores like those around still.

Los Gatos Hardware / Ace being one of themby any chance?

charlie b

Might be. That's 70 miles from home, and I haven't been in there in
maybe 20, 25 years.

This one is Bill's Ace, in Pleasant Hill, Concord and Martinez. The
first one I mentioned is Eames Hardware, on the border between Martinez
and Pleasant Hill.

They have to be everywhere. If you look, they still are. There's a
chain up in Lake County, called Hardester's, that is hardware at some
locations, groceries at others, and both at some. It's near my dad's
place, and I get there about every time we drive up. Same kind of
folks.

Petaluma has a couple. Sebastapol. Santa Rosa. There's more, I'm
certain.

Patriarch- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

They are all around...and if they are worth having, then they are
worth spending your money at FIRST.

I always go to my local hardware store (Ace) FIRST and only get to
the big box stores if I have to.

As a consumer, you get what you pay for...and don't bitch if you
aren't paying for service and then don't get any.

TMT